Omar Abdullah Swearing-in Ceremony Highlights: PM Modi congratulates Omar Abdullah for taking oath as J&K CM

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After attending the oath ceremony of Omar Abdullah as the CM of Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former J&K CM, Mehbooba Mufti said, “Today is a very auspicious day. People of Jammu and Kashmir have got their government after several years. People have elected a stable government. People of Jammu and Kashmir suffered a lot after 2019, and we hope that this new government will treat the wounds we got. We hope that the government will pass a resolution condemning the decision of August 5, 2019 (abrogation of Article 370). Apart from this, we also hope that the government will also find ways to resolve issues of unemployment, drug addiction, electricity and others.”

After Omar Abdullah was sworn-in as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated him on Wednesday.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Congratulations to Shri Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K's progress. "

Congratulations to Shri Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K's progress. @OmarAbdullah

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2024

As five ministers were sworn-in to the J&K Cabinet during the oath-taking ceremony, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Tariq Hameed Karra, said, "Congress won’t join council of ministers in J-K for the moment, party unhappy that statehood has not been restored to J-K."

Congress has won just six seats during the J&K Assembly elections and was expected to get one Cabinet berth, but the party has decided to sit out of the Cabinet and extend outside support to the National Conference.

Surinder Choudhary, who registered a glorifying victory from the Nowshera Assembly constituency and defeated BJP's J&K chief Ravinder Rana, has been chosen as the Deputy Chief Minister of J&K, ANI reported.

The Independent candidate from Chhamb, Satish Sharma, was extended support to Omar Abdullah's government, was sworn-in as a minister in the J&K Cabinet on Wednesday.

After Omar Abdullah took oath as the Chief Ministers, ministers are being administered oath, who will be inducted to the J&K Cabinet. The UT's cabinet can only have 9 ministers, including the CM, according to the J&K Reorganization Act.

Just moments ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Omar Abdullah as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Express sources confirmed that the Congress will not be a part of the government.

The J&K Cabinet can only has nine ministers, including the CM's post, several media reports were doing the rounds that Congress, that won six seats in the J&K Assembly elections, was likely to get only one Cabinet berth.

Now, sources told IE that Congress has taken a call to stay out of the government and provide outside support.

On Omar Abdullah's swearing-in ceremony, Yashpal Kundal, vice president of Jammu and Kashmir Congress, said, "We will attend the swearing-in ceremony today. We congratulate Omar Abdullah who will take oath as CM. Now people's issues will be resolved..."

During an interview with the Indian Express, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that all his "support will be with the new Government".

In his message to J&K CM-designate Omar Abdullah and newly elected MLAs, Sinha said, as quoted by IE, "My message is that now that the 'janata' (citizens) has given the mandate, the elected representatives should fulfill their promises to the people of J&K to provide peace, prosperity and development. In fulfilling this goal, all my support will be with the new Government. My message to the new MLAs is one of congratulations and that they should strive to give the maximum financial viability and stability to the Union Territory. They should run a Government for the common man and woman of J&K on the principles of peace, prosperity and development."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge have confirmed their attendance, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has arrived in Srinagar to attend the ceremony. The other leaders likely to attend are the DMK’s Kanimozhi, the NCP’s Supriya Sule, the CPI(M)’s Prakash Karat, the CPI’s D Raja, and Congress' Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

In the recently concluded J&K Assembly elections, the National Conference, who contested in a pre-poll alliance with the Congress. secured 42 out of 90 seats, while the Congress won six. Together, the two parties, including one seat of the CPI(M), have commanded a majority in the 95-member assembly, which includes five members to be nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.

Their majority has been further built up by the backing of four Independent MLAs.

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah is all set to take oath as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir today. The ceremony will take place at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar at around 11.30 am.