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Congress unlikely to be part of Omar Abdullah-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir
Omar Abdullah will take oath as the first chief minister of sworn in as the first chief minister of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress party is unlikely to be part of the Omar Abdullah-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir, but it will support the government, sources said. The development comes ahead of Omar Abdullah being sworn in as the first chief minister of the union territory.
The oath-taking ceremony, along with his council of ministers, will be held at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar at 11:30am.
Omar Abdullah, who previously served as the chief minister of the erstwhile state from 2009 to 2014 under an NC-Congress coalition will be administered the oath by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha.
On October 11, Omar Abdullah staked his claim to form the government, submitting letters of support from 42 National Conference MLAs, four independents, six Congress legislators, and one CPI(M) representative.
Ahead of taking oath, Omar Abdullah paid tributes at the mausoleum of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah in Srinagar.
Wearing a Pathani suit and coat, the 54-year-old offered floral tributes at his grandfather's grave in Hazratbal.
“Omar Abdullah prayed at Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's mausoleum before his swearing-in as the first chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir union territory,” the National Conference said.
The oath of office and secrecy will be administered to Abdullah and his ministers by Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha at 11.30 am.
Omar Abdullah's grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was the first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after its accession to India and later became the chief minister.
His father, Farooq Abdullah, has held the position of chief minister of the erstwhile state three times.
Omar, a former Member of Parliament served as chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2015. He was also the Union minister of state for external affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government from 2001 to 2002.
