Srinagar , Oct 16 : After the end of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir after the removal of Article 370, a new chapter began today when National Conference leader Omar Abdullah took oath as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Omar Abdullah and members of his Council of Ministers at this important ceremony held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Center in Srinagar. Omar Abdullah has become the Chief Minister for the first time in the history of the Union Territory and the second time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
On this occasion, the India Alliance of opposition parties participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Omar Abdullah, demonstrating unity. It included prominent leaders like senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Supriya Sule from NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, CPI leader D Raja, and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav. This presence gave the message that the opposition parties stand together in this new political scenario.
Along with Omar Abdullah, four key members of his new council of ministers also took oath. The ministers included in Omar’s cabinet are as follows:
Sakina Itoo
Surendra Chaudhary
Javed Ahmed Rana
Satish Sharma
Before taking oath, Omar Abdullah visited the memorial of his grandfather, National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and paid tribute to him. 54-year-old Omar Abdullah, wearing a Pathani suit and coat, offered flowers at the memorial of Sheikh Abdullah and prayed in his memory. With this emotional moment, Omar started a new chapter in his political career.
In a brief address before taking the oath, Abdullah reiterated his long-standing call to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“J&K is a Union Territory, which is unfortunate in itself. But I have always maintained that our status as a Union Territory is temporary. We have commitments from the government of India that statehood will be restored,” he said.
