President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir has officially ended, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the union territory. This follows the first elections held in the region since 2014, marking a significant political milestone after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which downgraded J&K’s status to a union territory. Although an elected government has limited powers in a union territory, with significant authority remaining with the central government, this development is seen as a critical step towards restoring democratic governance in the region.
In the recent assembly elections, the National Conference (NC), led by Omar Abdullah, secured 42 seats, while the Congress won six, resulting in a coalition. Their alliance is further supported by four independent MLA-elects and one Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA-elect. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the second-largest party with 29 seats. The elections were held in three phases across 90 constituencies, with a notable voter turnout of 63.88 percent overall, including a high of 69.69 percent in the final phase.
Omar Abdullah is set to become the Chief Minister, marking his second term in office. His first term, from 2009 to 2014, was also under an NC-Congress coalition when J&K was still a full-fledged state. Abdullah has already met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to present letters of support from coalition partners, and the swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place on Wednesday. However, the transition process involves several administrative steps, as the Union Territory is currently under central rule.
This election is historic, not only because it is the first since the revocation of Article 370, but also because it signifies a return to local governance after years of central control.
