It has been more than a month since Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took office, leading the first elected administration in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. His government has taken several noticeable steps since coming to power on October 16, including passing resolutions calling for the restoration of statehood and special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Observers say Abdullah has been quick to recognise the constraints of governing a Union territory, where key powers remain under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The resolution calling for the restoration of statehood, which Sinha approved, was passed in the first cabinet meeting on October 18. The resolution demanding the restoration of special status was passed during the assembly’s inaugural session from November 4 to 9. Though it did not directly mention Article 370, the resolution pushed for dialogue between the Centre and the Union territory’s elected representatives to restore constitutional guarantees.
The opposition BJP vehemently objected to the resolution, disrupting assembly proceedings and forcing Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to expel the party’s legislators. Sunil Sharma, leader of the opposition, said the resolution was “illegal”. “[It] was not part of the house’s scheduled business,” he said, adding that instead of discussing the lieutenant governor’s address, the government diverted attention by introducing the resolution. “The resolution is unconstitutional, as this assembly is not above Parliament or the Supreme Court,” he said.
Regional parties such as the People’s Democratic Party, the People’s Conference and the Awami Ittehad Party supported the resolution but expressed concerns about Article 370 finding no mention. The parties, along with independent MLA Shabir Kullay, proposed a separate resolution calling for the immediate restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A in their original forms. “This house strongly condemns the unconstitutional and unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, as well as the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, by the government of India. These actions stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and statehood, undermining the foundational guarantees and protections originally accorded to the region and its people by the Constitution of India,” read the proposed resolution, which Speaker Rather declined to entertain before adjourning the assembly sine die.
The Congress, despite being part of the pre-poll alliance with the NC that won 48 of 90 elected seats in the assembly, has chosen to remain outside the cabinet. Its leaders have made statements complicating the government’s stance and strengthening the PDP, PC, and AIP’s allegations that the resolution passed in the assembly was ambiguous. “After the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370, the only issue left to be addressed is statehood,” said state Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra. “Our stance on the matter is clear. How others present it is their choice.” Echoing similar sentiments, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge countered the BJP’s claims that his party supported the restoration of Article 370.
In terms of governance, the Abdullah government’s first flagship move has been creating 575 lecturer posts in the education department. The NC, in its manifesto, had promised one lakh jobs.
The government also reinstated the November-December academic session for students up to Class 9, reversing the LG administration’s controversial decision in 2022 to align the session with the national academic calendar. “For now, we will restore the academic session to November-December up to Class 9,” said Education Minister Sakina Masood Itoo on October 30. “For students of Class 10 to 12, the session will be restored next year.”
The government also increased the upper age limits in various categories for the Public Service Commission’s Combined Competitive Exam, a move welcomed by young aspirants. Abdullah also converted his official residence in Srinagar into an office for public grievances and welfare, committing himself to engaging directly with people on designated days.
Abdullah has been dismissive of allegations that the resolution passed in the assembly was ambiguous. Rushing a proposal on the first day of the session, he said, would have prompted outright dismissal from the Centre. “What would that achieve? We aimed to raise a voice in the assembly that compels the Centre to engage in dialogue with us―one that they cannot ignore,” he said.
With the BJP in power at the Centre, Abdullah faces significant constraints in his efforts to fulfil the NC’s manifesto promises. He has held meetings in Delhi with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman, seeking early restoration of statehood and increased financial assistance. Observers say Abdullah knows that ensuring infrastructure development, reliable power supply and job creation will be impossible without the Centre’s help.
During his meeting with Sitharaman, Abdullah acknowledged the need for mobilising more revenue locally to reduce dependence on Central funds. His discussions in Delhi also emphasised the importance of attracting investments in tourism, agriculture and horticulture to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Abdullah’s outreach in Delhi comes at a time when the government is preparing to present its first budget early next year. It will be the first budget presentation in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly in six years. To address budgetary gaps, Abdullah has requested an additional assistance of Rs6,000 crore from the Centre.
Clearly, despite being in office for only a month―a time too brief to fully evaluate performance―his government is trying to make a positive impression even under constraints that limit its authority.