New Delhi: Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Omar Abdullah on taking oath as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi posted on X: “Congratulations to Shri Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K’s progress.”
Last week, Omar said that he did not expect restoration of Article 370 from Modi-led government of India. The immediate priority of the next NC-Congress government in the Union Territory would be restoration of statehood, Omar had said.
The restoration of special status was one of the key pre-poll manifesto promises of NC, which eventually ended up winning elections in the Union Territory, along with its alliance partner, the Congress.
The National Conference (NC) emerged as the largest party in the recent polls, securing 42 seats and forming the government with the support of independents and the Congress, bringing the total to 53 seats.
Leaders of the INDIA Bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi, attended the ceremony. Omar is expected to lead his first cabinet meeting tomorrow, focusing on a resolution for restoring JK’s statehood.
Omar had staked claim on government formation after presenting the letters of support to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday. He presented the letters of support from 42 MLAs of NC, four independents, six Congress legislators and one CPI(M).
On Sunday, President Droupadi Murmu issued a notification revoking the president’s rule in J&K and paving way for the elected government to take the reins of J&K. On Monday, LG Sinha invited Omar for government formation on October 16. LG conveyed his decision by sending his Principal Secretary to Omar’s Gupkar residence.
Meanwhile, after the culmination of the swearing-in ceremony, the chief minister will be chairing a meeting with top officials.
