President’s Rule Revoked in J&K as Omar Abdullah Stakes Claim to Form Government
JAMMU, Oct 13: In a significant political development, the President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir was officially revoked ahead of the formation of a new government. The move came after National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah staked his claim to form the government by meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. A gazette notification was issued by the Union Home Ministry, stating the revocation of the Central rule, as per the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, and the Constitution of India. The notification, signed by President Droupadi Murmu, declared that the order from October 31, 2019, which had imposed Central rule in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, would be annulled immediately before the appointment of the Chief Minister under Section 54 of the Act.
The revocation of President’s rule comes after the Lieutenant Governor’s Office recommended the withdrawal to the Central Government. The decision was prompted by Omar Abdullah’s election as the leader of the NC Legislature Party. During his meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Abdullah presented letters of support from allied parties, further solidifying his claim to form the government. The National Conference, after winning the majority of seats in the recently held Assembly elections, is now poised to take the reins of the administration.
Central rule was originally imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019, following the formal reorganization of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, passed by the Parliament on August 5, 2019, marked the abrogation of Article 370, which had previously accorded special status to the state. This historic decision changed the political and constitutional landscape of the region, splitting it into two separate Union Territories directly governed by the Central Government.
Before October 31, 2019, Central rule had been in effect in the erstwhile state since June 2018, following the resignation of then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew its support from the PDP-led coalition government. Since then, the region had been under direct Central administration until today’s announcement, which sets the stage for a return to an elected government.
In the recent Assembly elections, which were held after a decade-long gap, the National Conference emerged victorious with 42 seats. Its pre-poll alliance partners, the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), secured six and one seats, respectively. Additionally, five independent candidates and the sole Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator extended their support to the National Conference, bringing the total number of seats in the alliance to 55 in the 90-member Assembly. This majority has positioned the NC as the front-runner to form the government, paving the way for Omar Abdullah to assume the role of Chief Minister.
The anticipated swearing-in ceremony for Omar Abdullah is expected to take place on Wednesday. The development marks a significant political shift in Jammu and Kashmir, as it transitions from Central rule back to a state-led governance structure. This event is also symbolic of the region’s efforts toward political normalization and stability, following years of direct Central administration and the substantial changes brought by the abrogation of Article 370.
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