President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir was officially withdrawn on Sunday, clearing the way for the establishment of a new government in the union territory. The Union Home Ministry issued a gazette notification announcing this significant development.
The notification, signed by President Droupadi Murmu, stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the order dated October 31, 2019, concerning the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall stand revoked immediately before the appointment of the chief minister under Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.”
The recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections resulted in a victory for the National Conference-Congress alliance, which is poised to form the new government. Omar Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference, has been elected as the leader of the alliance and is set to become the next chief minister.
President’s rule was imposed in the region on October 31, 2019, following the bifurcation of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. This change was enacted through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which was passed by Parliament on August 5, 2019, alongside the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to the region.
Prior to the imposition of president’s rule, the central government had been in control of the region since June 2017, after then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned following the BJP’s withdrawal of support to the PDP-led government.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is expected to take place on October 16.
