Srinagar, 12-10-2024: The Lieutenant Governor’s Office in Jammu and Kashmir has formally recommended the revocation of Central rule, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the Union Territory. This development follows the completion of Assembly elections and the National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah’s submission of letters of support from elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), affirming his majority claim.
According to official sources, Omar Abdullah met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, where he staked his claim to form a new government with the backing of the Congress and other allies. The LG’s office has subsequently forwarded a recommendation for the removal of Central rule, clearing the procedural path for the establishment of the newly elected government—the first in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and its reorganization into a Union Territory.
The revocation of Central rule involves a significant legal process that must be completed before the swearing-in ceremony for Omar Abdullah, who has been elected as the NC Legislature Party leader. Two legal avenues exist for the removal of Central rule. The first option involves the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, endorsing the Lieutenant Governor’s recommendation and forwarding it to President Droupadi Murmu. Upon receiving the Cabinet’s advice, the President would formally revoke the Central rule.
Alternatively, the Prime Minister himself could recommend the revocation directly to the President, with the Cabinet’s endorsement coming at a later stage. Sources indicate that all necessary procedures are expected to be finalized within the next two days, allowing for the swearing-in of Omar Abdullah and his Council of Ministers, which is likely to occur on Wednesday.
This legal and procedural undertaking is significant, as Jammu and Kashmir has been under Central rule for over six years. Furthermore, these are the first Assembly elections in the region since its transition from a state to a Union Territory. The last government in the erstwhile state was led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which ended on June 19, 2018, when the BJP withdrew its support. Following the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly in November 2018, the President’s rule was imposed.
The recent Assembly elections, completed on October 10, saw the National Conference emerge as the single largest party, securing 42 seats. Its alliance partners, the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist), won six and one seat, respectively, bringing the coalition’s total to 49 seats. Additionally, five Independent MLAs from the Jammu division have extended their support, taking the alliance tally to 54 seats, well above the required majority. Meanwhile, the BJP secured 29 seats, all from the Jammu region.
With the legalities expected to be concluded shortly, the new government led by Omar Abdullah is set to take office, marking a pivotal moment in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape as it transitions from prolonged Central rule to a democratically elected administration.