President’s Rule Lifted in Jammu & Kashmir: After years of central rule, Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness the formation of its first government since 2014. This significant political shift follows the recent assembly elections, held for the first time since the dissolution of the People’s Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (PDP-BJP) alliance in June 2018, which had led to the imposition of President’s Rule.
The turning point came in August 2019, when the central government abolished J&K’s semi-autonomous status by revoking Article 370, transforming it into a Union Territory.
In Union Territories, the elected government’s authority is restricted, with the ultimate control lying with the Central Government.
Election Results: National Conference Emerges Victorious
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, spread across three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, 2024, marked a historic moment, being the first since the revocation of Article 370.
The polls were held for 90 constituencies, and the voter turnout was commendable, with an overall participation rate of 63.88%. The third phase saw the highest engagement, recording a turnout of 69.69%, according to the Election Commission of India.In terms of electoral outcomes, the National Conference (NC) secured a significant victory, winning 42 seats.
The Congress, which had entered a pre-poll alliance with NC, managed to secure six seats, with five coming from the Kashmir region and one from Jammu. Their alliance was further strengthened with support from four independent candidates and a sole MLA-elect from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the second-largest party, claiming 29 seats.
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President’s Rule Lifted in Jammu & Kashmir: Omar Abdullah Set to Return as Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah, who previously held the position of Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state, is now poised to lead once again.
After being unanimously elected as the leader of the NC Legislature Party, Abdullah is on track to assume office for his second term as Chief Minister.Shortly after the Congress publicly confirmed its support for the National Conference, Abdullah met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to present formal letters of support from coalition partners.
These included letters from the Indian National Congress (INC), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), AAP, and several independent MLAs.
A spokesperson for the Raj Bhavan confirmed the development, stating, “Shri Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), met with the Lieutenant Governor at Raj Bhavan today. He submitted a letter from Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, certifying that Omar Abdullah has been elected as Leader of the Legislature Party of JKNC. Letters of support from the INC, CPI(M), AAP, and independent members were also handed over to the Lieutenant Governor.”
Abdullah hinted that the swearing-in ceremony could be held on Wednesday, although he acknowledged that some formalities might take time. “This is not a typical scenario where one elected government is taking over from another. At present, the Union Territory is under central rule, and there are certain procedures that need to be completed. The LG has to send documents to Rashtrapati Bhavan, after which they will be processed by the Home Ministry before being returned. We’ve been informed that this process could take 2-3 days, but if all goes smoothly, I hope the oath-taking ceremony can take place on Wednesday,” he explained.
