Omar Abdullah is all set to be sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir since its reorganisation as a Union Territory, following the National Conference's (NC) decisive victory in the recent Assembly elections.
The ceremony will take place today at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), marking a significant moment in the region's political history.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 am, where Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will administer the oath of office to Abdullah and his council of ministers.
The event comes after the government formally lifted the President's Rule in the Union Territory, clearing the way for the formation of the new administration.
Omar Abdullah’s National Conference emerged as the largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections, securing 42 out of the 90 seats, ensuring a comfortable majority with the support of their pre-poll ally, the Congress, which won six seats.
In addition, the coalition's majority is bolstered by the backing of five Independent MLAs and one member from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The NC leadership extended invitations to key members of the opposition INDIA alliance, including Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha; Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge; and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Other prominent figures such as NCP President Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav, and DMK's M.K. Stalin are also expected to attend the event. Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP leader, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, have also been invited.
Though it is unclear which leaders will attend, Nasir Aslam Wani, the NC's provincial president for Kashmir, indicated that several top political figures are likely to make an appearance at the historic event.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed Omar Abdullah's invitation to form the government in a letter sent on Monday. The invitation followed an official letter from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, informing the Lieutenant Governor of Omar's unanimous election as the Leader of the Legislature Party.
In the letter, Sinha wrote, "I have received a letter of 11th October 2024 from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, wherein it has been informed that you have been unanimously elected as Leader of the Legislature Party."
Omar Abdullah’s return to the helm of Jammu and Kashmir comes after a decade, with his first term as Chief Minister lasting from 2009 to 2014, when the region was still a state. His tenure back then was under an NC-Congress coalition.
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