Omar Abdullah, chairman of the National Conference (NC) party, took the oath as chief minister of India-held Kashmir on Wednesday. This marks his second term as CM. His first stint was from 2009 to 2014. Abdullah’s swearing-in comes after the BJP-led government’s decision to revoke the region’s special status in 2019.
Manoj Sinha, the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir and a BJP member, administered the oath of office to Abdullah. His party secured the most seats in the recent three-phase election.
Abdullah Opposes Revoking Article 370
Omar Abdullah’s National Conference party firmly opposes the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted Jammu and Kashmir semi-autonomous status. The NC is part of the INDIA opposition alliance, which is led by the Indian National Congress.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended the swearing-in ceremony, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi. Gandhi congratulated Abdullah in a post on X (formerly Twitter). However, he also expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “Government formation without statehood felt incomplete today.” Gandhi emphasized the ongoing fight to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi Congratulates Abdullah
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Abdullah in a post on X. “Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K’s progress,” Modi stated.
Abdullah’s political journey began in 1998 when he became the youngest member of parliament in India. He also became the youngest chief minister when he first assumed the role in 2009.
Absence of Congress Members Raises Questions
The new six-member cabinet, led by Abdullah, does not include any Congress members. This decision has raised questions. NC’s Surinder Choudhary has been appointed deputy chief minister. Other cabinet members include Sakina Ittoo, Javed Rana, Javed Ahmad Dar, and Satish Sharma, The Statesman reported.
Abdullah Vows Representation for Jammu
In his first comments after taking the oath, Abdullah assured representation for Jammu in the new government. “We will not let Jammu feel that they do not have a voice or representation in the current government,” he said, adding that appointing a deputy CM was part of that commitment.
The NC’s victory is being viewed as a backlash against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to revoke Article 370, according to Deutsche Welle. As Abdullah begins his second term as chief minister, the political landscape in India-held Kashmir remains tense, with calls for restoring full statehood to the region still resonating.
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