SRINAGAR (KIMS) — National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory on Wednesday, with Surinder Choudhury taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded from statehood and bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—on August 5, 2019, by the Government of India.
The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha during a ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Several Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders attended the event, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav.
Omar Abdullah secured the Ganderbal and Budgam seats, while Surinder Choudhary won Nowshera in the recently held Assembly elections.
Additionally, Sakina Itoo (D.H. Pora), Javid Dar (Rafiabad), Javed Rana (Mendhar), and Independent MLA Satish Sharma (Chhamb) were sworn in as cabinet ministers.
In the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years, the National Conference (NC) emerged as the largest party with 42 seats, while its alliance partner Congress secured 6 seats, allowing the coalition to surpass the 46-seat majority needed to form a government.
However, the Congress party, NC’s alliance partner, has chosen not to join the government.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra stated that the party is dissatisfied and will not take any ministerial positions until the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. — (KIMS)