The Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, the first elected administration in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, completed 100 days in office. Since taking charge on October 16, the government has implemented a few measures. However, it continues to be hamstrung due to the constraints of governing a Union territory, where key powers remain with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
A few notable steps taken by the government include the passage of two resolutions. In its first cabinet meeting on October 18, the government passed a resolution seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. This was followed by a resolution during the inaugural session of the legislative assembly in early November, calling for restoring special status to Jammu and Kashmir with constitutional guarantees and protections. The resolutions didn’t mention Article 370, and attracted criticism from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Conference (PC) and Awani Itehad Party (AIP).
Among its initial measures, the government sanctioned 575 lecturer posts in the education department. The upper age limit for candidates appearing for the Public Service Commission's Combined Competitive Exam was also raised—a move welcomed by young aspirants. The government restored the November-December academic calendar for students up to Class IX, reversing the previous administration's controversial decision to align with the national academic calendar.
In the first cabinet meeting of 2025, held on January 20, key proposals cleared by the cabinet include pollution abatement projects for the Jhelum and Banganga rivers, bio-remediation of the Achan dumping site in Srinagar and the construction of a new hospital block at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. Abdullah has also engaged directly with the public by converting his official residence in Srinagar into a grievance redressal office.
The government has approved key reforms such as the implementation of a three-tier faculty structure for dental colleges, amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, and the elimination of oral tests for certain government posts. Additionally, measures were announced to address the pending dearness allowance for government employees and pensioners.
In Delhi, he has held meetings with key Union ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding restoration of statehood and additional financial assistance for tourism, agriculture, and horticulture sectors to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. A request for Rs 6,000 crore in financial aid has also been placed to address budgetary gaps.
The government has also encountered setbacks on some fronts. A proposal to reinstate December 5, the birthday of National Conference founder and Omar Abdullah’s grandfather Sheikh Abdullah, as an official holiday was overruled by the Lieutenant Governor. This has been viewed by critics as a blow to the chief minister’s ability to make decisions.
Sinha also blocked the government’s decision to retain former advocate general D.C. Raina in his position after Raina resigned. The decision underscored the limited powers of the elected government in the Union territory, where Sinha holds sway.
Perhaps the most unexpected challenge Abdullah has faced has come from within the party. Syed Agha Rouhallah Mehdi, NC MP from Srinagar, has been highly critical of the government’s weak stand on issues of the restoration of Article 370 and statehood. Mehdi has not only been vocal on the two issues but also on other matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir. On December 23, he staged a protest outside Abdullah’s residence against the rules introduced in Jammu and Kashmir that have increased the percentage of reservation for different groups beyond 60 per cent, forcing those belonging to open merit to move court and also demand reversal of the rules.
The government has constituted a committee to look into the issue under Minister of Health and Education Sakina Itoo, but said it will wait for what the court has to decide on the matter. NC leaders and the NC president Farooq Abdullah criticised Mehdi for staging protests against the party and the government with Itoo calling his actions a “cheap publicity stunt’.
Mehdi, however, said he was committed to raising the issues concerning the people. In one of his interviews, he said Abdullah risked being seen as “Delhi’s man in Kashmir” if he didn’t advocate strongly for the rights snatched from the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah did raise the issue of the restoration of statehood with PM Modi during the inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel at Sonmarg on January 13. Modi responded by saying,” I am Modi, I keep my promises”.
There is unanimity among observers that the Abdullah-led government is feeling constrained to operate at will and unless statehood is restored, the government will be unable to come good on the promises made to people before the elections. There are also concerns among NC supporters that unless Abdullah toughens his stance on the restoration of statehood, he runs the risk of becoming unpopular.