Omar Abdullah has become the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir following a decisive victory in the recent assembly elections. The National Conference (NC) leader, 54, was sworn in on Wednesday, marking his return to the top post after serving as chief minister of the erstwhile state from 2009 to 2014.
The NC, in alliance with the Congress, secured a majority by winning 42 of the 90 elected seats, while Congress added six. Their combined strength, with additional support from five Independents and the lone AAP MLA, ensures a stable government in the newly formed 95-member assembly, which also includes five nominated members.
Abdullah’s victory comes just months after a significant defeat in the June Lok Sabha polls, where he lost the Baramulla seat to Independent candidate Abdul Rashid Sheikh by over two lakh votes. Initially, Abdullah had stated he would sit out of the assembly elections until the Centre restored statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. However, he eventually changed course, contesting and winning from two key constituencies — Budgam and Ganderbal.
In his second term, Abdullah’s leadership represents the third generation of the Abdullah family to hold the region’s highest political office, following his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah and father Farooq Abdullah. With Farooq Abdullah easing into retirement, Omar Abdullah’s success is seen as pivotal for the future of the National Conference.
After the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir changed significantly, with the National Conference witnessing a resurgence in support.
Voters across the union territory, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, rallied behind the NC, leading to its electoral success.
The swearing-in ceremony was administered by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also inducted five ministers into the new government: Sakina Itoo, Javed Dar, Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, and Satish Sharma. Itoo and Dar hail from the Kashmir Valley, while Rana, Choudhary, and Sharma represent the Jammu region. The Congress, meanwhile, has opted not to join the council of ministers for the time being.
Omar Abdullah’s political career, which began at 28 when he became the youngest member of the Lok Sabha in 1998, has been marked by both setbacks and comebacks. Now, his leadership in this new chapter for Jammu and Kashmir’s political future is poised to reshape the region’s governance under the Union Territory framework.
