Omar Abdullah Takes Oath As J&K CM, Calls For Restoration of Statehood

Srinagar: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah on Wednesday, October 16 was sworn in as the first chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. The oath ceremony took place at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. Meanwhile, five ministers were also sworn in.

While, Surinder Choudhary who defeated BJP Jammu and Kashmir President Ravinder Raina took oath as the the Deputy CM, NC's Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javed Ahmad Dar and Independent MLA Satish Sharma took oath as cabinet ministers of the UT.

To extend support, several top INDIA bloc leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi , Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, Congress president Malikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav , CPI leader D Raja, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, AAP leader Sanjay Singh attended the oath ceremony of Omar Abdullah. 

Abdullah has been unanimously elected leader of the NC Legislature Party. His first term as chief minister was from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state.

The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats in the recent elections while alliance partner Congress bagged six. Together, the two pre-poll allies hold a majority in the 95-member assembly -- five members are to be nominated by the LG.

In 2019, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

INDI Leaders React to Omar Abdullah's Swearing-in Ceremony

Akhilesh Yadav :

 "It was important (to form the government here) and getting the rights is even more important.," said Samajwadi Party's chief Akhilesh Yadav after attending the ceremony.

Mehbooba Mufti:

After attending the swearing-in ceremony of Omar Abdullah as the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said "I congratulate the people of J&K as they have got a stable govt after a long time. It was a very difficult time for the people of J&K after 5th August 2019. We hope that the government which has been formed will first of all heal the wounds and solve the problems and sufferings of the people and pass a resolution condemning the decision made on 5th August 2019. The people of Jammu Kashmir do not accept that decision. Along with that, the govt will find out the ways to overcome unemployment, drug addiction, electricity and other issues..."