Omar Abdullah to take oath as first CM of Jammu and Kashmir UT in Srinagar today

This marks Abdullah’s second term as the head of the government in the region, having previously served as the chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2014 under an NC-Congress coalition.

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah is set to make history on Wednesday when he takes the oath as the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The ceremony will be held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar at 11:30 a.m., with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administering the oath of office and secrecy.

This marks Abdullah’s second term as the head of the government in the region, having previously served as the chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2014 under an NC-Congress coalition. This time, he returns as the leader of a newly-formed Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—in August 2019.

The stage for Abdullah’s swearing-in was set after he staked his claim to form the government on October 11, submitting letters of support from 42 NC MLAs, four independent legislators, six Congress MLAs, and one CPI(M) representative. His claim was officially accepted on October 14, following President Droupadi Murmu’s notification revoking President’s rule in the Union Territory. The lieutenant governor then extended a formal invitation to Abdullah to form the government.

In addition to Abdullah, eight ministers from Jammu and Kashmir will be sworn in during the ceremony. The NC leader was unanimously elected as his party’s legislature party leader on October 10, clearing the way for him to assume office once again.

Security has been significantly bolstered around the SKICC venue in preparation for the event, with officials ensuring that all necessary arrangements have been made to accommodate the high-profile attendees. A senior security official stated, “Security has been tightened at multiple levels, as numerous VVIPs, including political leaders and chief ministers from other states, will be present. We are ensuring a smooth and secure conduct of the event.”

Several prominent leaders from across India, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP MP Supriya Sule, and CPI’s D Raja, are expected to attend the ceremony. Invitations have also been sent to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, DMK leader MK Stalin, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, Omar Abdullah will hold a meeting with administrative secretaries at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to discuss governance priorities for the new administration.

The path to Abdullah’s swearing-in as chief minister follows a turbulent political journey for Jammu and Kashmir. The region had been under President’s rule since June 2018, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew its support from the coalition government led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The coalition’s collapse led to the resignation of then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, and Jammu and Kashmir was subsequently placed under direct central rule. In August 2019, the central government made the historic move to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 and split the region into two Union Territories.

The recently concluded assembly elections, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, saw the NC emerge as the largest party, winning 42 out of 90 seats. The Congress secured six seats, and together, the two parties formed a pre-poll alliance that holds a majority in the 95-member legislative assembly. This majority is further supported by the backing of four independent MLAs and one AAP legislator. Five members of the assembly are to be nominated by the lieutenant governor.

Congress has appointed Ghulam Ahmad Mir as its legislature party leader in Jammu and Kashmir, with the party’s high command expected to finalize its nominees for the ministerial posts in Abdullah’s new government.