Omar Abdullah was sworn in on Wednesday as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, after his National Conference, NC, emerged victorious in the region’s first assembly elections since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. Abdullah, the party’s main leader, was administered his oath of office in a formal ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah Sworn in as First Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory
Dignitaries, political leaders, and senior officials attended the ceremony, presided over by Jammu and Kashmir‘s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to Abdullah and his newly appointed council of ministers. This is the first elected government in the region after reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories-Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh-following the abolition of the special status that Article 370 had granted to the former state.
Abdullah’s Council of Ministers
Abdullah had a number of key politicians accompanying him in the government as five ministers were sworn in along with him. Some of these are:
- Sakina Itoo – a senior leader of the National Conference and one of the scant women in the cabinet,
- Javeed Rana – a significant figure in the NC,
- Surinder Choudhary – well known in social welfare and development works,
- Javeed Dar, and
- **Satish Sharma .
The council also comes with a mini team from multiple backgrounds which rightly represents the political and social scenario of the region. Their areas of operation would supposed to be economic, social, and political rebirths of the Union Territory.
Security has been mounted around the SKICC and other places across Srinagar where thousands of people have turned up to witness this momentous occasion. Officials made sure the transfer of power is peaceful.
New Beginnings after Article 370
After an almost three-year-long political vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir, the swearing-in ceremony of the new government took place after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state during August 2019. Since then, Jammu and Kashmir had been governed directly from the office of the Lieutenant Governor. With Article 370 abrogated, the special autonomy of the region was abolished, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir was brought fully within the Indian Constitution. This move proved to be highly controversial, resulting in severe political disturbances coupled with the detention of many political leaders, including Omar Abdullah, who was house arrested for many months.
This newly instituted government marks the revival of democratic governance in the region for the very first time since reorganization; this is for the first time the people of Jammu and Kashmir are permitted to elect their leaders. Abdullah became the Chief Minister of erstwhile state Jammu and Kashmir and has now become the first Chief Minister of newly carved Union Territory.
National Conference – Congress Alliance
In the recently concluded assembly elections in three phases, National Conference has come out as the single largest party in the region. NC entered into an alliance with the Congress party to win 48 of the contested 90 seats. Though National Conference headed the alliance and won the election pretty convincingly by coming out victorious in 42 seats, Congress got only six seats. The result was announced on 8 October with the gateway to the first elected government in the Union Territory.
This victory has come as a great political rebirth for Abdullah and the National Conference that was relegated to the background post the abrogation of Article 370. In his victory speech, Abdullah vowed to work for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir by focusing on restoring peace, improving the economy, and addressing all the problems in the region.
Challenges Ahead
Numerous challenges in this newly formed Union Territory have faced Omar Abdullah in his position as chief minister. The region is still suffering from unstable politics, security issues, and economic distress. These afflictions coupled with the long-persisting conflict between separatist elements and government forces persist in this region. Abdullah has promised to work towards restoring peace and normalcy in the region while also focusing on unemployment, economic development, and improvement of infrastructure.
Besides, the controversial issue relating to the status of the region vis-à-vis the central government is not yet settled. The scrapping of Article 370 is still a highly emotive issue. Many political groups have demanded a special status for Jammu and Kashmir, and Abdullah, on the other hand, has demanded statehood status for Jammu and Kashmir at times in the past. He reiterated the same position in this election campaign.
In the post-election address, Abdullah had announced, “This is a victory not just for the National Conference but for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We have gone through difficult times but today marks a new beginning. Our focus will be on development, reconciliation, and rebuilding the trust of the people.”
Outlook
An elected government returning to Jammu and Kashmir is a fundamentally new development in the region’s politics. Of course, challenges remain; however, Abdullah’s leadership and successful elections are an augury for the future course of Union Territory. Everything will depend on how his government balances the delicate relationship between living up to local expectations, holding peace and security, and managing the relations with the center.
The weight of expectations from his supporters and from the critics shines brightly on the shoulders of Omar Abdullah, the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. His leadership of the region during this critical period likely will dictate the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s political and socio-economic trajectory.
