Srinagar, October 10 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah is set to become the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after being unanimously elected as the leader of the NC legislature party. This decision was made during a meeting held at the NC headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha, in Srinagar on Thursday. The party will soon stake its claim to form the government in the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, senior party leaders, and the recently elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Dr. Farooq Abdullah had already informed the media that Omar would be the new Chief Minister following the announcement of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election results by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Omar Abdullah expressed that the election results demonstrated that the majority of the people in J&K did not support the revocation of the state’s special status. He remarked, “Had the people endorsed the revocation, the BJP, not the NC-Congress alliance, would have secured the majority in the Assembly.”
Restoration of Statehood a Priority
Omar Abdullah also revealed that the first priority of the new cabinet would be to pass a resolution asking for the restoration of J&K’s statehood. He said, “The first business of the cabinet should be to pass a resolution asking the Centre to restore statehood to J&K. The Chief Minister should then take this resolution to Delhi and demand the restoration of our statehood.”
Omar further pointed out that this promise was made by the Prime Minister and Home Minister. He reiterated that the NC would continue to demand the restoration of Article 370, asserting that the party’s stance on this issue would never change.
Omar Abdullah’s Second Term as Chief Minister
This will mark Omar Abdullah’s second term as the Chief Minister of J&K. He previously held the position in 2009, becoming the state’s Chief Minister at the age of 38. However, this time, he will lead as the Chief Minister of the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.
Election Results and Seat Distribution
In the 98-member J&K Legislative Assembly, the NC secured 42 seats, while the BJP won 29, Congress secured six, the PDP got three, CPI(M) and Peoples Conference won one seat each, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also secured one seat. Additionally, there are seven Independent members. The Lieutenant Governor will nominate five more members to the Assembly on the recommendation of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Of these five nominated members, two will be women, two will represent the Kashmiri Pandit displaced community, with at least one being a woman, and one will be a West Pakistan refugee. These nominated members will also have voting rights in the formation of the government.
Independent MLA Joins National Conference
Meanwhile, Choudhary Akram, who won the Surankote seat in Poonch district as an Independent candidate, met Omar Abdullah on Thursday and has decided to join the NC, strengthening the party’s position further.
FAQs
1. Who is Omar Abdullah, and what is his role in the new government?
Omar Abdullah is the Vice President of the National Conference (NC) and has been unanimously elected as the leader of the legislature party. He is set to become the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for the second time.
2. What is the NC’s stance on the restoration of J&K’s statehood?
Omar Abdullah has stated that the first priority of the new cabinet will be to pass a resolution demanding the restoration of J&K’s statehood and delivering it to the Central government in Delhi.
3. What were the results of the recent J&K Legislative Assembly elections?
The National Conference (NC) won 42 seats, the BJP secured 29 seats, Congress won six, the PDP secured three, and other parties like CPI(M), Peoples Conference, and AAP each won one seat. Seven Independent candidates were also elected.
4. Will the NC push for the restoration of Article 370?
Yes, Omar Abdullah has reiterated that the NC will not abandon its demand for the restoration of Article 370, and the party’s stance on this issue will remain unchanged.
5. What is the significance of Choudhary Akram joining the NC?
Choudhary Akram, an Independent MLA from Surankote, has decided to join the NC, strengthening the party’s position in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
