Restoration of statehood to J&K challenge : Omar Abdullah
Srinagar, Oct 14 :
Following the National Conference’s sweeping victory in the recent Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections 2024, the Omar Abdullah led government will take oath on Wednesday, Omar informed on Monday.
“Was pleased to receive the Principal Secretary to LG Manoj Sinha ji. He handed over a letter from the Office of LG J&K inviting me to form the next government in J&K,” Omar captioned a picture of the Principal Secretary to LG Manoj Sinha on X .
“I have received a letter of 11 October, 2024 from Dr Farooq Abdullah, President, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, wherein it has been informed that you have been unanimously elected Leader of the Legislature Party. I have also received a letter from Shri Tariq Hameed Karma. President, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee. Shri GN. Malk Secretary, CPI(M), Shri Pankaj Kumar Gupta, National Secretary, Aam Aadmi Party and Independent MLAs namely, Shri Payare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Ch. Mohd Akram, Dr. Rameshwar Singh and Muzafar Iqbal Khan, offering support in the formation of the Government led by you. I am pleased to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. As separately settled, I shall administer Oath of Office and Secrecy to you, and to those recommended by you for induction as members of your Council of Ministers, at SKICC, Srinagar on 16 October, 2024 at 11:30 am. I take this opportunity to wish you a highly productive tenure and success in your endeavors in the best interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” a letter by the LG Office stated.
Speaking on the sidelines of a cricket match on Saturday, Omar had told ETV Bharat that the oath-taking will take place Wednesday.
He had also referred to the infamous fax controversy during the tenure of then Governor Satya Pal Malik.
“We once tried to form a government via fax, but the fax machine didn’t work. If you expect us to run a government through a fax, it won’t end well. There’s a procedure to follow for ending the President’s Rule. Cabinet notes are important, and all formalities will be completed by Monday. With the Almighty’s will, we will take the oath on Wednesday,” the Chief Minister designate said.
The NC-Congress, which had formed a pre-poll alliance ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections won 47 seats-42 won by the NC.
Political Career
Omar began his political innings at the age of 28 years when he first contested the 1998 parliament elections and was appointed as the Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce and Industries. He later served as MoS for External Affairs in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP
JK LG invites
government at the centre. In 2002, Omar contested his first assembly elections and lost the seat from Ganderbal against the PDP’s candidate Qazi Afzal. That year, PDP and Congress formed a coalition government. In 2008, Omar won the elections from Ganderbal and became chief minister with Congress support.
In the 2014 assembly elections, he contested from Sonawar and Beerwah seats but lost the polls against PDP’s new entrant Ashraf Mir from Sonwar. The PDP and BJP joined hands to form the government in 2015, which lasted for more than three years after the BJP withdrew support for Mehbooba Mufti in June 2018.
Omar will be the chief minister with the thin support of Congress and independents, though his party has the majority of 42 seats in the 90-member legislative assembly.
This will be his second stint as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, but he will be heading a union territory.
Meanwhile, National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah on Monday said the holding of elections was a challenge and to restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is another challenge for him.
The Chief Minister designated Omar made these revelations before the delegations of the party who visited him at his Gupkar residence on Monday, a party statement said.
“Our struggle is long, holding the election was a challenge before us and then achieving success in it was also a big challenge,” Omar told workers.
As the President’s rule has ended in Jammu and Kashmir today, the National Conference leader Omar is likely to take oath of office as Chief Minister of the Union Territory on Wednesday.
“Before us, the challenges of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and then restoring the constitutional and democratic rights of the people here remain,” Omar said.
Omar urged the leaders, officials and workers associated with the party to maintain close contact with the people at the ground level and highlight the problems of the people at all levels.
He said, “Our success has been ensured by the valuable votes of the people and to provide relief to the people should be our first priority.”
“National Conference has formulated a plan of action for the next 5 years and has put an organized manifesto before the public and we will try our best to bring awareness to it,” he said.
