Srinagar, Oct 14: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah will take the oath as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on October 16 at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha extended an official invitation to Abdullah and his council of ministers for the oath-taking, scheduled for October 16, at 11:30 a.m. In a letter issued from Raj Bhawan, LG Sinha wrote, “I am pleased to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. As separately settled, I shall administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to you, and to those recommended by you for induction as members of your Council of Ministers.”
The letter also conveyed Sinha’s best wishes, stating, “I take this opportunity to wish you a highly productive tenure and success in your endeavours in the best interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The invitation followed a formal communication on October 11 from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, confirming Omar Abdullah’s unanimous election as the Leader of the Legislature Party. Additionally, support letters were received from J&K Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) Secretary G. N. Malik, Aam Aadmi Party National Secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta, and several independent MLAs, including Payare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Ch. Mohd. Akram, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, and Muzafar Iqbal Khan.
Confirming the development, Omar Abdullah posted on social media platform X, stating, “I was pleased to receive the Principal Secretary to LG Manoj Sinha ji. He handed over a letter from the @OfficeOfLGJandK inviting me to form the next government in J&K.”
Senior JKNC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar expressed optimism, stating, “It is a privilege to be working alongside you under your thoughtful leadership and representing people of Hazratbal in the legislative assembly. I am sure with you in lead, JKNC will set an example of governance along with our allies and provide the representation to the people of J&K they deserve. Long live people of J&K, long live JKNC.”
Omar Abdullah’s upcoming oath follows a series of consultations and meetings. He met LG Sinha to present the letters of support and formally stake his claim to form the government. The process had seen a brief delay as the necessary documentation was processed by Rashtrapati Bhawan and the Union Home Ministry.
On Sunday, President Droupadi Murmu issued a notification ending President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, thereby enabling the formation of a new government.
The recent J&K Assembly elections resulted in a decisive victory for the NC-Congress alliance, which secured a total of 49 seats in the 90-member Assembly. The National Conference emerged as the dominant force, winning 42 seats, while its ally, the Congress, secured six seats.
