The Comeback of Omar Abdullah: J&K's First CM Since Article 370 Abrogation

Srinagar: On October 16, Omar Abdullah, a prominent leader of the National Conference (NC) party, made history by taking oath as the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after it was designated a Union Territory. This milestone followed his party's victory in the maiden assembly election held after the abrogation of Article 370. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar and was administered by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

In his remarks prior to taking office, Abdullah expressed a strong commitment to addressing the needs and expectations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized the responsibility of the new government to listen to the public, stating, "We have a lot to do. We have to give people the hope that this is their government and they will be heard." 

He highlighted the importance of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “I have some strange distinctions. I was the last chief minister to serve a full six-year term. Now I'll be the first chief minister of the Union territory of J&K. The last distinction, as in the one of serving six years, I'm quite happy. I hope that the status of a union territory is a temporary one. We look forward to working in cooperation with government of India to resolve the people's problems and the best way to do that would be to start by restoring statehood to J&K.”

Jammu and Kashmir has now got the first elected government since the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the former state into two Union Territories. The Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, held after a decade, resulted in a decisive victory for the JKNC, which secured 42 out of 90 seats in the assembly, while its ally, the Congress , won six seats. 

Jammu and Kashmir was under the Presidential rule since 2018, after the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew its support from the coalition government with Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party (PDP). Recently, the president's rule in Jammu and Kashmir was revoked, clearing the way for the formation of a new government following the recently concluded Assembly polls in the Union Territory.

Top Leaders from INDI Bloc Attend Omar Abdullah's Oath Ceremony

Top leaders from the INDIA bloc are gathered in Jammu and Kashmir to witness the historic oath ceremony of Omar Abdullah as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory. Among the attendees was Rahul Gandhi , the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, who arrived this morning alongside his sister Priyanka Gandhi and Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge, representing the Congress national leadership. Other prominent leaders present include Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav , CPI leader D. Raja, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat, AAP leader Sanjay Singh , DMK's Kanimozhi, and NCP's Supriya Sule, all of whom have come to show their support for Abdullah's new role.

Who is Omar Abdullah?

Omar Abdullah was the last Chief Minister to serve a full six-year term before the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which changed the region's political landscape. Omar was the CM of the erstwhile state from 2009 to 2015 and previously served as the Union Minister of State for External Affairs in former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government from 2001 to 2002. In 2002, Omar Abdullah was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, serving under his father.

Born on March 10, 1970, in Srinagar, he is the son of former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and the grandson of Sheikh Abdullah, a respected figure in the region’s politics. Sheikh Mohammad Abullah, was the first Prime Minister of J&K after its accession to India and later served as Chief Minister.

Omar's father Farooq Abdullah has been the CM of the erstwhile state thrice. He pursued his education at St. Stephen’s College in Delhi and later obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Cambridge.

Omar entered politics at a young age, becoming the Member of Parliament for the Srinagar constituency in 1999. He quickly rose through the ranks of the National Conference, known for its strong roots in Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape. His leadership style and ability to connect with the youth gained him major support within the party.