• Cong leader Rahul Gandhi to attend oath ceremony
• Top INDIA bloc leaders expected to attend oath ceremony
• People have lot of expectations from JKNC-Cong govt: Dr Farooq Abdullah
• Adequate arrangements in place for high profile event in Srinagar: Police
Srinagar, Sep 15: National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah is set to be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on October 16, following an invitation from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The oath-taking ceremony will be held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) at 11:30 a.m., where Sinha will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy.
The ceremony is expected to witness the attendance of top leaders from the INDIA bloc, with NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah expressing hope that the new government will meet the expectations of the people. “The central government should restore statehood as soon as possible and give all powers to the state government to provide relief to the public,” said Dr. Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. He also mentioned that they are hopeful of the presence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP MP Supriya Sule, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin’s sister Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, CPI leader D. Raja, and CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat.
NC spokesperson Imran Dar stated that preparations for the ceremony are complete, with leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, and Sukhbir Singh Badal expected to arrive by Wednesday morning. “This is a historic moment. After more than six years, a new government is forming, and people have high hopes,” said Dar, emphasizing that this is a victory not only for JKNC but also for the citizens who voiced their discontent over the events of 2019, including the abrogation of Article 370.
Meanwhile, security has been heightened around the SKICC, with police and paramilitary forces intensifying patrolling and setting up multiple checkpoints. Around 2,000 to 2,500 people are expected to attend the event, and security measures, including drones, CCTV, and plainclothes personnel, have been put in place to ensure safety.
“Both police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have intensified patrolling, vehicle checking, and frisking at various flashpoints along the Dal Lake in Srinagar and other vital roads in the city, ” he said.
The invitation for Omar Abdullah to form the government came after the Centre ended President’s Rule in the region, marking a significant shift in J&K’s political landscape. The NC-Congress alliance secured a decisive victory in the recent Assembly elections, winning 49 seats, with NC clinching 42 and Congress 6.
The upcoming government formation will mark the first elected administration since 2018, when BJP’s withdrawal of support led to Governor’s rule in the then-state.
