- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:33 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah will take oath as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister today. Security has been heightened across the UT in view of the key event. Omar Abdullah is set to become the first J-K CM following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the reorganisation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.
The oath for Omar and his cabinet will be administered by Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, at 11:30 am at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Although Congress contested the assembly polls in alliance with the NC, sources, cited by News 18, revealed the grand old party will not be a part of the government. The Congress party has been reportedly pushing for three cabinet positions, but Omar Abdullah's National Conference has extended an offer of just one, along with the potential of a deputy speaker post.
#WATCH | Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Jammu and Kashmir CM-designate Omar Abdullah offers floral tributes at the Mazar-e-Anwar of “Sher-e-Kashmir” Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, in Srinagar pic.twitter.com/EvNMdbbeaF
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024
Leaders of the Congress party, while talking with the aforementioned media outlet, said they would not be a part of the Jammu and Kashmir government if the National Conference remains adamant. However, a final decision will be made by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
As per the news agency PTI, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi are slated to attend Omar Abdullah's oath ceremony.
Leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, interim leader of the CPI(M) central committee Prakash Karat, NCP working president Supriya Sule, DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi, and CPI(M) general secretary D Raja, also arrived in Srinagar on Monday to participate in the event.
The NC won 42 of the 90 seats that went to the poll in the recent elections, while the Congress won six.