Jammu and Kashmir will welcome its first Chief Minister today after gaining Union Territory status. Newly elected MLA Omar Abdullah will take the oath of office at 11:30 AM. Prominent Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Despite the Congress and the National Conference (NC) forming a coalition government, Congress will not hold any cabinet positions. Sources indicate that Congress declined the offer for a ministerial role.
These assembly elections represent the first since Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory. Following three phases of voting in September, officials announced the results on October 8, with the NC and Congress securing a combined total of 49 seats.
Omar Abdullah has stepped forward as the leader of the alliance, leading to his election as Chief Minister. Leaders from other parties in the India Bloc have also received invitations to the swearing-in ceremony, including Akhilesh Yadav of the Socialist Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and DMK Chief MK Stalin. Additionally, Congress allies Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar will attend Omar Abdullah’s swearing-in as the state gears up for the upcoming Maharashtra elections.