Omar Abdullah Claims Government Formation in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar : The National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance has officially staked its claim to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir. This development follows a meeting between National Conference Vice President and Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday evening. During this crucial meeting, Omar presented letters of support from the coalition partners, marking a significant step in the government formation process.

The backdrop to this claim comes after Omar Abdullah was unanimously elected as the leader of the NC legislature party on Thursday, positioning him for his second term as chief minister. His previous tenure spanned from 2009 to 2014 when he led a coalition government between the National Conference and Congress.

The recent elections have been pivotal for the National Conference, which emerged as a dominant political force by winning 42 of the 90 seats in the three-phase elections. The Congress party, securing six seats, has significantly contributed to the coalition’s majority. Moreover, the NC-Congress alliance has garnered additional support from four independent MLAs, as well as legislators from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Aam Aadmi Party. This broad support has solidified the coalition’s position in the assembly.

Following his meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, Omar Abdullah spoke to reporters, revealing, “I met the LG and presented letters of support from the NC, Congress, CPI(M), AAP, and independents. I requested him to fix a date for the oath ceremony as soon as possible so that the new government, chosen by the people, can start functioning.” He expressed optimism that the swearing-in ceremony could take place on Wednesday, although he acknowledged that procedural formalities might introduce slight delays.

“This transition is different because it is not merely the replacement of one democratically elected government with another. Jammu and Kashmir is still under central rule, meaning the Lieutenant Governor needs to send documents to Rashtrapati Bhavan. From there, they will be forwarded to the Home Ministry for further processing before being returned. We have been informed that this process will take two to three days, so we are hopeful that the oath ceremony will occur by Wednesday,” Omar explained.

Earlier in the day, the six Congress MLAs met in Srinagar and authorized the party’s central leadership in New Delhi to decide on the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP). Tariq Karra, the President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), indicated that this decision was reached unanimously, leaving the final choice regarding the CLP leader to the central leadership.

This upcoming government will mark the first elected administration in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018, when Governor’s rule was imposed following the BJP’s withdrawal of support from then-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Additionally, it represents the first elected government since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent delimitation of seats in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the recent elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 29 seats, reinforcing its presence in the region, even as the political landscape continues to evolve with the newly formed NC-Congress alliance at the helm. As the coalition prepares to take charge, all eyes are on the upcoming oath-taking ceremony, signaling a significant moment in Jammu and Kashmir’s political history.