Omar Abdullah and his council of ministers will be sworn in on October 16, marking the establishment of the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir after a decade.
Omar, vice president of the National Conference, and his council of ministers were invited on Monday by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, to be sworn in as the chief minister on October 16 at SKICC, Srinagar.
"I am pleased to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. As previously agreed, I will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to you and your recommended Council of Ministers at 11:30 am on October 16, 2024," Sinha wrote in a formal communication from Raj Bhavan.
The LG extended his best wishes for Omar’s tenure, saying, "I wish you a highly productive term and success in your efforts for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir."
The invitation followed a letter received by the LG on October 11 from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, president of the National Conference, confirming Omar Abdullah’s unanimous election as the Leader of the Legislature Party.
Support for the new government also came from J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) secretary G.N. Malik, AAP national secretary Pankaj Kumar Gupta, and independent MLAs Payare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Ch. Mohd. Akram, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, and Muzafar Iqbal Khan.
Omar had met Sinha on Saturday to present letters of support and stake his claim for government formation.
The development followed the procedural submission to Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Home Ministry.
President Droupadi Murmu issued a notification late last night, officially ending President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir and paving the way for the new government.
Elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in three phases—September 18, 25, and October 1—with results declared on October 8.
The NC and Congress had allied against the BJP. The alliance won 48 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the BJP secured 29 seats.
Omar will be sworn in as chief minister for the second time. He was first sworn in as chief minister in 2009 after the NC formed a coalition with the Congress.