Omar Abdullah sworn in as Jammu and Kashmir CM, Congress declines to join government for now
The Congress urged the Union government to restore statehood for the region.
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Party leader Surinder Kumar Choudhary took oath as the deputy chief minister.
The others who were sworn in as Cabinet ministers were National Conference leaders Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana and Javed Ahmad Dar and Independent MLA Satish Sharma.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to them.
Abdullah became the first person to hold the post since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Constitution. He had also served as the chief minister of the erstwhile state from 2009 to 2015.
The swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday was attended by several leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the event.
The Congress, however, said it has decided not to join the government for now, and urged the Centre to restore statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. The party contested the election in alliance with the National Conference.
Abdullah was on October 10 elected as the leader of National Conference’s legislative party, two days after his party won the Assembly elections. He had staked his claim to form the government in the Union territory on...
