Jammu: With the stage all set for Omar Abdullah to take oath as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leaders will hold a meeting with Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. According to sources, no Congress MLA will take an oath as a minister.
There is a possibility that Congress may choose to support Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) from the outside. Discussions about this option are underway and a final decision could be made before the oath-taking ceremony.
#WATCH | Visuals from outside Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar where JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah will take oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir today. pic.twitter.com/hTmaKX7mL6
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2024
Omar Abdullah set to take oath as Jammu and Kashmir CM
Omar Abdullah will take the oath as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir after the National Conference’s victory in the assembly elections, which took place after a decade. The oath of office and secrecy will be administered by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at 11.30 am.
While there has been no official confirmation regarding the list of ministers, sources suggested that four ministers from JKNC and Omar Abdullah will take the oath. No one from Congress or independent candidates is expected to take an oath as a minister.
There is speculation that Congress might be offered the speaker or deputy speaker’s post. Sakina Itoo, a four-time MLA and former minister, is likely to join the Union Territory cabinet. She represents Damhal Hanjipora seat in South Kashmir and is one of two MLAs elected on the National Conference ticket.
These ministers likely to take oath
Ali Mohammed Sagar, a five-time MLA and general secretary of National Conference, is also likely to be inducted into the cabinet. He represents Khanyaar Assembly segment of Srinagar and is close to both Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah.
Hasnain Masoodi, another NC MLA and former Lok Sabha MP, is expected to join the cabinet as he represents Pampore assembly segment of Pulwama. Javed Rana, a four-time MLA from Mendhar, is among the candidates likely to be included in the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet.
Saifullah Mir, a four-time MLA from Kupwara, is also anticipated to be inducted as a minister in the new NC-Congress government. Additionally, Surinder Choudhary, an NC MLA who defeated BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina in Nowshera, is expected to join the cabinet. Choudhary and Arjun Singh Raju are the only two Hindu representatives in the NC government.
The cabinet is also likely to include five independent MLAs from Jammu division who have extended support to the National Conference. Two of these candidates, Pyare Lal Sharma and Satish Sharma, along with Dr Romeshwar Singh, are probable inductees in the cabinet.
Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah has scheduled a meeting with all administrative secretaries on Wednesday at 3 pm in Civil Secretariat. The National Conference won 42 out of the 90 seats in the assembly elections, while Congress secured six seats. Together, these pre-poll allies hold a majority in the 95-member assembly, which includes five members to be nominated by the lieutenant governor. Their strength is further supported by five Independent MLAs-elect and one AAP MLA-elect.
