 Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 16: National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah today scripted a chapter in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir by taking oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory.
In a historic ceremony, Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory on Wednesday.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on the picturesque banks of Dal Lake.
Alongside Omar Abdullah, Surinder Chowdhary was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister, while Sakina Itoo, Satish Sharma, Javaid Dar, and Javaid Rana were also inducted as Cabinet Ministers.
Surinder Choudhary, a former legislator, defeated J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina in the Nowshera Assembly segment of Rajouri district. This indicates Omar Abdullah's focus on the Jammu region by appointing Surinder Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister, along with Javaid Rana and Satish Sharma, who also hails from Jammu. From Kashmir, Sakina Itoo and Javaid Dar were appointed as ministers, reflecting Omar's commitment to representing both regions.
After a decade-long wait, Jammu and Kashmir has its first elected government since the last Assembly polls in 2014. The revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, led to the formation of two Union Territories: J&K and Ladakh.
Top leaders from the Indian National Developmental Alliance (INDIA bloc) attended the oath ceremony to show unity am The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Alongside Omar, Surinder Chowdhary was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister, while Sakina Itoo, Satish Sharma, Javaid Dar, and Javaid Rana were also inducted as Cabinet Ministers.
After a decade-long wait, Jammu and Kashmir has its first elected government since the last Assembly polls in 2014.
The National Conference emerged victorious in the recent Assembly polls, securing 42 seats. The party gained support from four independent MLAs from the Jammu region and one seat from the Communist Party (Marxist). The Congress, which fought alongside the National Conference in the pre-poll alliance, extended support with its six seats, pushing the total tally to 53.
In Jammu, the BJP dominated with 29 seats but fell short of forming the government. In Kashmir, the party failed to win a single seat. After receiving letters of support from independents and Congress, Omar Abdullah visited Raj Bhavan to stake his claim on government formation. President Droupadi Murmu issued a notification revoking the President's Rule, paving the way for the elected government. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha invited Omar to form the government on October 16.
The Chief Minister later visited the Civil Secretariat for a guard of honor and chaired a meeting with administrative officers. This development marks a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir's history, and the people eagerly await the new government's initiatives. |
