On 16th October 2024, Omar Abdullah (54 years old), Vice President (VP)of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), sworn-in as new Chief Minister (CM) of Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) during the ceremony held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, J&K. He became the CM of J&K for the 2nd time.
- With this, he becomes the 1st CM of UT J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 by the Government of India (GoI) in 2019.
- Surinder Kumar Choudhary took oath as the Deputy CM of UT J&K.
Note: Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor (Lt Gov) of J&K administered the oath of office and secrecy to Omar Abdullah and his 5 Council of Ministers during the swearing-in ceremony.
Key People:
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha; Mallikarjun Kharge, President of Indian National Congress (INC) party; Mehbooba Mufti, President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former CM of J&K; among others were present at the event.
5 Council Ministers:
i.Omar Abdullah was accompanied by 5 Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) , of which 3 are from Jammu region and remaining two are from the Kashmir Valley.
ii.These ministers were elected from different constituencies such as: Satish Sharma (Chamb constituency, Jammu division); Sakina Masood (Itoo) (D.H. Pora constituency in Kulgam district, South Kashmir); Javid Dar (Rafiabad constituency, North Kashmir); Surinder Kumar Choudhary (Nowshera, Jammu division) and Javed Ahmad Rana (Mendhar constituency, Jammu division).
2024 J&K Assembly Elections:
i.The JKNC-INC alliance won the elections by securing 48 out of 90 assembly seats which went for elections. JKNC emerged as the single largest party with 42 seats, of which 35 seats won from Kashmir valley and 7 seats won from Jammu division. While, its alliance partner INC won 6 seats.
- JKNC-INC government received the support of 5 independent MLAs and 1 MLA from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
ii.Omar Abdullah contested 2024 J&K assembly elections from Ganderbal constituency and Budgam constituency in Central Kashmir region and won in both constituencies.
About Omar Abdullah:
i.His political started career in 1998 when he was 1st elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar constituency, J&K to the 12th Lok Sabha (the Lower House of Parliament) at the age of 28, becoming the youngest member of Lok Sabha.
ii.He has served as the Minister of State (MoS) for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) from 2001 to 2002.
iii.He succeeded his father and former CM of J&K, Farooq Abdullah as the President of JKNC in 2002 and held that post till 2009.
iv.He has served as the 11th CM of state J&K from 2009 to 2015, before abrogation of article 370.
About Jammu & Kashmir (J&K):
Capital- Jammu (in winter) and Srinagar (in summer)
Chief Minister (CM)- Omar Abdullah
Lieutenant Governor- Manoj Sinha
