Omar Abdullah Set to Take Oath as First Chief Minister of J&K Union Territory on Wednesday
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: The stage is prepared for Omar Abdullah to be sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, following his party, the National Conference (NC), securing a significant victory in the maiden Assembly elections after the abrogation of Article 370. The much-anticipated oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, with elaborate preparations in place for the event.
According to officials, the swearing-in ceremony, set for 11:30 am, will be conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Omar Abdullah and his council of ministers. The SKICC, the venue chosen for the historic occasion, is under tight security, with measures intensified to ensure the safety of VVIP attendees and a smooth conduct of the event.
“Security arrangements have been bolstered, especially given the presence of high-profile dignitaries. Our priority is to guarantee a seamless and secure event,” officials stated.
Invitations have been extended to constituents of the opposition alliance, the INDIA bloc. However, the specific list of attendees is yet to be confirmed. Nasir Aslam Wani, the NC’s Kashmir provincial president, remarked, “We are awaiting confirmations from the VVIP guests and will have a clearer picture by this evening.”
The formal invitation for Abdullah to take the oath as Chief Minister was extended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday, following the Centre’s revocation of President’s Rule in the Union Territory. In his official letter to Abdullah, Sinha cited a communication from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the President of the National Conference, confirming Omar Abdullah’s unanimous election as the leader of the NC Legislature Party.
Additionally, Sinha acknowledged letters of support from various political leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Congress Chief Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) Secretary G N Malik, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta, and Independent MLAs-elect Payare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Mohammad Akram, Rameshwar Singh, and Muzafar Iqbal Khan.
In his letter, the LG stated, “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, at SKICC, Srinagar on 16th October, 2024 at 11:30 am.”
The LG’s emissary personally delivered the letter to Omar Abdullah, informing him of the date and time for the ceremony. Abdullah’s unanimous election as the leader of the NC Legislature Party last Thursday solidified his path to the Chief Minister’s office, marking his second tenure in this role.
In the recent elections, the NC emerged victorious with 42 out of 90 seats, while its ally, the Congress, secured six seats. Together, the two pre-poll allies have achieved a majority in the 95-member Assembly, which also includes five nominated members to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
