The Chhattisgarh

Tag: Omar Abdullah

  • Omar Abdullah Takes Oath As Chief Minister Of Jammu And Kashmir |

    Omar Abdullah takes oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.

    The oath-taking took place at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Omar Abdullah and his council of ministers. Security has been heightened around Abdullah’s residence and key areas in Srinagar ahead of the event.

    In an invitation letter shared by Omar Abdullah on X from LG Manoj Sinha, it said, “I have received a letter of 11th October, 2024 from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, President, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, wherein it has been informed that you have been unanimously elected as Leader of the Legislature Party.”

    “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 16th October 2024 at 11:30 a.m. 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,” LG Sinha said.

    Congress-NC Alliance Secures Victory

    This significant political moment comes after the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance secured a majority in the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The coalition won a total of 48 seats, with the National Conference emerging victorious in 42 constituencies, while the Congress secured 6.

    The formation of the new government marks the first elected administration in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the state into two Union Territories in 2019.

    A Legacy of Leadership

    Omar Abdullah’s political journey is deeply rooted in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. His grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was the first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after its accession to India and later served as the Chief Minister.

    His father, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has held the position of Chief Minister three times. Omar himself previously served as Chief Minister of the erstwhile state from 2009 to 2015 and was also the Union Minister of State for External Affairs under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government from 2001 to 2002.

    End of Presidential Rule in J&K

    Jammu and Kashmir had been under President’s rule since 2018 after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) withdrew its support from the coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The recent revocation of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir has paved the way for the formation of a new government, following the successful assembly elections.

    Leaders from INDIA Bloc Attend Ceremony

    Leaders from various political parties, especially those part of the INDIA Bloc, have arrived in Srinagar to attend the oath-taking ceremony. Notable leaders present include Akhilesh Yadav, President of the Samajwadi Party; Supriya Sule, working president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP); Prakash Karat from the Communist Party of India (Marxist); and DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi.

  • NC-Congress Alliance Stakes Claim To Form Government In J&K, Omar Meets Lt. Guv |

    The National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance took a significant step on Friday by formally staking their claim to govern Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to present the coalition’s letters of support, just hours after Congress publicly backed Abdullah.

    Abdullah’s election as the leader of the NC legislature party on Thursday cleared the path for his return as chief minister. He previously held the position from 2009 to 2014, leading a similar NC-Congress coalition.

    In the recent elections, the NC won 42 out of the 90 seats contested in three phases, while Congress secured six seats. With the support of four Independent legislators and the only Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, the coalition boasts a solid majority in the 95-member House.

    After his meeting at the Raj Bhawan, Abdullah spoke to reporters, expressing urgency for the swearing-in ceremony. “I met the LG and presented the letters of support from the NC, Congress, CPI(M), AAP, and Independents who have backed us. I requested him to fix a date as soon as possible so that the government elected by the people can start functioning,” he stated.

    Abdullah indicated that the oath ceremony is tentatively set for Wednesday, although he acknowledged some delays. “This process will take some time. It’s not an elected government replacing another elected government; we are under central rule, and the LG has to prepare documents to send to Rashtrapati Bhavan,” he explained.

    He further clarified the steps involved: “From Rashtrapati Bhavan, the documents will go to the Home Ministry for processing, and then they will be sent back. We’ve been informed it will take at least two to three days. I hope this process can be completed quickly, allowing us to hold the oath ceremony on Wednesday.”

    Earlier on Friday, the six Congress MLAs convened to authorize the party’s high command in New Delhi to select the leader of their legislature party. JKPCC President Tariq Karra announced that the meeting unanimously decided to delegate this important decision to the central leadership.

  • ‘Not God’s Decision’: Omar Abdullah Says Restoring Article 370 ‘Not Impossible’ |

    National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah, during his campaign in Budgam, where he is contesting elections, said that the restoration of Article 370 is not impossible as it was not a decision made by God. He noted that the Supreme Court, which gave the verdict against the article, could tomorrow rule in their favor. “The court has ruled in our favor three times before, and it can do so again. Nothing is impossible,” he stated.

    Omar further explained, “Three previous decisions made by the Supreme Court were changed by a five-judge bench, and in the future, a seven-judge bench could also reverse the decision.”

    He was responding to Home Minister Amit Shah, who recently said that Article 370 is now history and will never be part of India’s Constitution again.

    Targeting Shah, Abdullah added that the Home Minister should focus on the current situation and the rise of terrorism in Jammu, saying, “The Centre has been directly ruling Jammu & Kashmir for the last ten years. So, who is responsible for the situation in Jammu now?”

    Earlier, Farooq Abdullah stated, “We will fight for the restoration of Article 370 and will again approach the Supreme Court.” He added that the National Conference remains committed and will continue its fight for the restoration of Article 370.

  • ‘My honour, Turban And Cap Are At Your Feet’: Omar Abdullah Ahead Of J-K Assembly Polls |

    Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah urged people to help him win the seat addressing party workers in Ganderbal.

    On Wednesday, Today Abdullah filed his nomination papers for the Ganderbal Assembly constituency, where he is facing a tough challenge from PDP candidate Bashir Ahmad Mir. This is a crucial moment for Abdullah, who recently lost the Lok Sabha election from Baramulla.

    In his first address in Kashmiri, Abdullah expressed his deep emotional attachment to Ganderbal, saying he was returning after 22 years. Invoking the importance of respect and dignity in his appeal, he said, “My honour, my turban and my cap are at your feet.”

    He also urged the residents to give him another opportunity to serve them, saying political discussions and conspiracies from Delhi will be sorted out in time, but today is only to win their confidence.

    “The BJP has fielded several independent candidates in Kashmir and is supporting them, but when the results come in, you will see the will of the people,” Omar said while speaking to the media.

  • Anantnag-Rajouri Election To Be Postponed? Omar, Mehbooba Voice Concern On ECI’s Query |

    Former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir – Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah today urged the Election Commission of India to not postpone the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha polls. The two leaders’ remarks came after the Election Commission of India wrote to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir and the Chief Electoral Officer of the region seeking a report about the constituency and the need for postponing the polls. The ECI wrote to the state election officer after several political parties including the BJP, Apni Party, and J&K Peoples’ Conference wrote to the ECI demanding the postponement of the polls citing adverse road conditions and inclement weather.

    Responding to this, both Omar and Mehbooba wrote to the ECI, alleging that the BJP and its A, B, C teams are sensing defeat and thus making excuses regarding weather conditions. PDP chief and Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency candidate Mehbooba Mufti accused the BJP of attempting to sabotage the electoral process in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency.

    Mufti stated, “The BJP and other parties who have ganged up against me want to prevent me from reaching Parliament. The support I’m receiving from people across party lines in both the Kashmir and Jammu regions is making these parties fearful of my influence among the people, prompting them to write to the ECI to defer the polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat.”

    Mufti further asserted that the demand is entirely illogical as only a few days remain until the polls. She appealed to the ECI not to postpone the polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency under any circumstances, stating, “This action would convey the wrong message, eroding trust in the electoral process and resulting in serious consequences.” Mehbooba Mufti wrote a detailed letter to the ECI demanding that the polls for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency not be deferred.

    NC Vice President Omar Abdullah addressed a press conference at the party headquarters in Srinagar over the issue opposing the postponement of the polls. “When they sense that the NC has the upper hand and the establishment-backed candidate is losing, they resort to these tactics. We have witnessed this in the past as well; when the former CM’s brother was on the verge of losing and the Anantnag elections were postponed, then no elections happened. The BJP and partner parties, along with the ECI, are attempting to do the same, citing the Mughal road problem.”

    Abdullah added, “Some parties among those who have written this letter have nothing to do with these elections since they haven’t fielded a candidate, such as the People’s Conference and the BJP. Should I write a letter tomorrow for some seat in South India to have it deferred?”

    Abdullah further said that if the polls are deferred, the NC will take the matter to court. “The ECI must instruct the administration to keep the roads open. I’ve been CM, and I know that machinery and manpower can keep the Mughal road open,” he stated.

    Inclement weather conditions have led to frequent closure of the Mughal Road, which connects the Anantnag and Rajouri areas of J&K. Mufti also held a roadshow through the Mughal Road yesterday. In the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, all paperwork is complete, with 21 candidates contesting the polls while voting is slated to take place on May 7th, in the third phase.