Omar Abdullah takes oath as J&K chief minister, Congress to stay out of government

NEW DELHI: National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, marking his second stint in the top post. This also marks the first elected government in the region following the abrogation of Article 370.

Omar has appointed Surender Choudhary from Nowshera in Jammu as the deputy chief minister in the J&K government, saying he did so to give a voice to people of the region and make his government inclusive.

The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, amidst the presence of prominent INDIA bloc leaders.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra meanwhile, said that the Congress party has decided not to join the ministry in the Jammu and Kashmir government for the time being. Karra highlighted Congress’s ongoing demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "We are unhappy, therefore we are not joining the ministry at the moment," Karra said, adding that Congress will continue to fight for the restoration of statehood.

The event saw the attendance of several national leaders, including Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi , Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, JKNC President Farooq Abdullah , Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti , Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja.

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Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah had earlier dismissed speculations surrounding a potential rift between the JKNC and Congress over cabinet berths in the J&K government. He clarified that while Congress has chosen not to join the cabinet immediately, ministerial positions remain open as discussions between the two parties are ongoing.

"Congress is not out of the cabinet. It's for them to decide, and we have been in discussions with them. I will not be filling all 9 vacancies in the council of ministers. Some vacancies will be kept open as we are in talks with Congress. Everything is well between NC and Congress, otherwise Kharge ji, Rahul ji, and senior Congress leaders would not be coming here. Their presence is indicative of the fact that the alliance is strong, and we will work for the people (of the state)," Omar Abdullah had said ahead of his swearing-in ceremony.

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Earlier in the day, Omar Abdullah paid homage to his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah and grandmother, visiting their mausoleum near a local shrine in Srinagar. He offered 'Fatiha Khawani' (special prayers) ahead of his swearing-in ceremony.

This swearing-in marks the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent reorganization of the former state into two Union Territories. The NC-Congress alliance emerged victorious in the recent assembly elections, securing 48 seats, with the National Conference winning 42 and Congress gaining six.