The Union Home Ministry on Sunday issued a gazette notification withdrawing the President's rule from Jammu and Kashmir, thereby clearing the decks for the swearing-in of the new NC-Congress government led by Omar Abdullah.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) read with Articles 239 and 239A of the Constitution of India, the order dated the 31st October, 2019 in relation to 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 notification signed by President Droupadi Murmu said.
The President's rule was imposed in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019, after the abrogation of Article 370. The Central rule was, however, imposed in the state in June 2017 after the then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned after the BJP withdrew its support. Jammu and Kashmir came under the Governor's rule for six months which was subsequently extended several times with the approval of Parliament.
The National Conference-Congress alliance won the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and is set to form the government.
Omar Abdullah met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday and requested him to fix the date for the swearing-in ceremony at the earliest. On his swearing-in ceremony, Abdullah said it would take place on October 15 or 16, due to pending paperwork.
He added that the first on the new government's agenda is to seek restoration of statehood. "We are already requesting that statehood must be restored so that the state can work and we can get on with our job," Omar told reporters.
BJP to elect Leader of Opposition
The BJP is set to hold its legislative party next week to choose the leader of Opposition in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The party won 29 seats in Jammu.
The BJP legislature party leader will also be the leader of opposition in the House. The BJP has appointed senior leaders Tarun Chugh and Prahlad Joshi as observers for BJP’s legislative party meeting.
Speculations are rife that the party might choose between Sunil Kumar Sharma(MLA Padder Nagseni) and Devinder Rana(MLA Nagrota) for the position.
