In a significant political development, the National Conference (NC) has staked its claim to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370. Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah, who serves as the NC vice president, met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan on October 11 to present letters of support from coalition partners, including Congress, CPI(M), AAP, and four Independents.
This move follows a unanimous decision by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) to back the NC for government formation. Abdullah hinted that the oath-taking ceremony could occur on Wednesday, October 16, and has requested the LG to set a date to initiate government operations.
Omar Abdullah was elected as the leader of the NC Legislature Party on October 10, paving the way for a potential second term as Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister, a role he held from 2009 to 2014. The NC secured 42 out of the 90 seats in the recent elections, while Congress won six. The LG is expected to appoint five additional MLAs, expanding the assembly to 95 members.
NC President Farooq Abdullah has also expressed intentions to formally claim the government formation at Raj Bhavan and hopes the NC-Congress alliance, with CPI(M) support, will have adequate time to prepare for the oath-taking ceremony.
The Jammu and Kashmir Congress has deferred the decision on its legislative leader to the party’s central leadership in New Delhi. JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra confirmed that the CLP has passed a resolution to this effect, which has been forwarded to the central command for further action.
Karra stated that there were no internal differences regarding the choice of the CLP leader, emphasizing that it’s a common practice within the Indian National Congress (INC). When asked about demands for supporting the NC, he reiterated the party’s commitment to the spirit of the INDIA bloc, focusing on the welfare of the people.
Regarding the acceptance of Omar Abdullah as the chief ministerial candidate, Karra remarked that with the NC electing its leader, there was no need for further commentary on the matter, affirming Abdullah’s acceptability as a choice made by the NC.
