Omar Abdullah Sworn in as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress Leaders Express Support

Srinagar: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his satisfaction on October 16 over National Conference leader Omar Abdullah taking the oath as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Kharge emphasized that the two parties will collaborate to restore statehood to the region.

Kharge was present at the swearing-in ceremony alongside a host of leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, left leaders Prakash Karat and D Raja, DMK’s Kanimozhi, and NCP’s Supriya Sule.

“We are happy that our alliance partner has become the chief minister, marking a significant success for J-K. Today, democracy has been restored, and we will fight together to strengthen it. We will continue our efforts until J-K regains its statehood,” stated Kharge.

Omar Abdullah’s swearing-in marks the establishment of the first elected government in the Union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The 54-year-old Abdullah expressed optimism about the mandate he received to serve as Chief Minister for a second time but acknowledged the challenges ahead.

Under the J&K Reorganization Act, the state government can have a maximum of nine ministers, including the Chief Minister. Abdullah will need to ensure representation from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions, as well as various ethnicities, within this limited framework.

Abdullah is set to move into the official residence for chief ministers, recently refurbished and located on the high-security Gupkar Road, close to the home of his father, National Conference Chief and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. This transition symbolizes a significant return to governance for Abdullah after the changes brought about by the abrogation of Article 370.