Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for his congratulatory message after being sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier in the day, Abdullah took the oath of office at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, marking a new political chapter for the region following its transition into a Union Territory.
In a post in response to the Prime Minister’s post on X, Omar Abdullah said, “Thank you very much @narendramodi Sb for your message of congratulations. My colleagues and I look forward to working together with you to give the people of J-K an effective, efficient and honest administration.”
Prime Minister Modi had earlier extended his best wishes, assuring the central government’s full cooperation for the progress of Jammu and Kashmir. “Congratulations to Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J-K’s progress,” PM Modi said in his message.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several prominent leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, CPI(M)’s Prakash Karat, NCP’s Supriya Sule, and DMK’s Kanimozhi, along with other dignitaries.
Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) party led a coalition government in alliance with the Congress, securing a majority in the recent elections. The coalition enjoys support from the INDIA bloc and four independent members, solidifying Abdullah’s position as Chief Minister.
This marks Abdullah’s return to the role of J-K’s top office, having previously served as Chief Minister from 2009 to 2015. The new government has committed itself to bringing stability and development to the region as it navigates its political future within the Union framework.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Saxena administered the oath to Abdullah and his council of ministers, setting the stage for what many hope will be a transformative era for Jammu and Kashmir.
(Inputs from ANI)