Omar Abdullah, who previously served as the chief minister of the erstwhile state from 2009 to 2014 under an NC-Congress coalition will be administered the oath by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.
The Congress party is unlikely to be part of the Omar Abdullah-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir, but it will support the government, sources said. The development comes ahead of Omar Abdullah being sworn in as the first chief minister of the union territory.
Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister-designate of Jammu and Kashmir, paid his respects at the Mazar-e-Anwar of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, his grandfather and the first Prime Minister of JK, in Srinagar ahead of his swearing-in ceremony. This poignant moment was a nod to his family’s legacy in the region’s politics – his father, Farooq Abdullah, had served as Chief Minister three times.
Speaking after offering prayers, Omar emphasized the significance of his government being accountable to the people. “We have a lot to do,” he acknowledged. “We need to reassure the people that this government is theirs, and their voices will be heard. For the past 5-6 years, they’ve been ignored, but it’s our responsibility to listen and act on their concerns”.
