Congress Not Part of Omar Abdullah-Led Cabinet in J&K, To Support From Outside

Srinagar: As National Conference leer Omar Abdullah was sworn in as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress on Wednesday said it has decided not to join council of ministers in newly formed Jammu and Kashmir government as party was "unhappy" that statehood was not restored to Union territory.

Speaking on matter, Jammu and Kashmir Presh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra said that Congress has strongly demanded from Centre to restore statehood to J-K, besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi has time and again in public meetings promised same.

Karra said, “Congress Party is not joining Ministry in Jammu and Kashmir government at moment. Congress has strongly demanded from Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, besides Prime Minister has time and again in public meetings promised same. But statehood has not been restored to J&K. We are unhappy, refore we are not joining Ministry at moment.” He also reiterated Congress party’s commitment to continue fighting for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar Abdullah, who has been elected as leer of NC Legislature Party, was sworn in by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. This is Abdullah's second term as chief minister and first government formed in Jammu and Kashmir after its reorganization as a union territory following abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Besides Omar Abdullah, five ministers -- Sakina Masood (Itoo), Javed Dar, Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, and Satish Sharma -- took oath of office.

Several prominent leers from opposition INDIA bloc were present at ceremony to show support for Abdullah. Among m were Congress leers Rahul Gandhi , Priyanka Gandhi Vra , and Mallikarjun Kharge, as well as Samajwi Party chief Akhilesh Yav , CPI(M) leer Prakash Karat, CPI's D. Raja, DMK's Kanimozhi, and NCP's Supriya Sule. AAP leer Sanjay Singh and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti were also in attendance.

National Conference, led by Abdullah, secured 42 seats in recent 90-member legislative assembly elections. With its ally, Congress , which won six seats, coalition holds a majority in 95-member assembly, including five nominated members. This marks a significant political shift in region, which has been without an elected government since 2019 when it was reorganized into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Lakh.

Omar Abdullah's first term as chief minister was from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state.