'Swearing-in on ...': NC's Omar Abdullah meets LG, stakes claim to form J&K govt

NEW DELHI: Omar Abdullah, the vice president of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, met with lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday after receiving letters of support from various political parties and independent candidates. During the meeting, Abdullah submitted these letters to the LG and requested him to set a date for the swearing-in ceremony, allowing the new government to commence its work.
"I met the LG and handed over letters of support that I have received from the Congress, CPM, AAP and independents. I requested him to fix a date for the swearing-in ceremony so that the government can start functioning," he said to reporters after meeting the LG.
Abdullah acknowledged that the process of forming the government would be lengthy due to the current Central rule in Jammu and Kashmir. He explained that the LG would first send the necessary documents to Rashtrapati Bhawan and then to the home ministry, which is expected to take two to three days.
"If it happens before Tuesday, we will have the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday," Abdullah said. He also emphasised that Jammu would not be "ignored" in the new government.
The National Conference (JKNC) and Congress alliance achieved a resounding victory in the recently held J&K Assembly polls, securing a total of 49 seats. The JKNC emerged as the dominant force, clinching 42 seats, while its ally, the Congress party, won 6 seats.
In a unanimous decision, the JKNC's legislative party chose Omar Abdullah as their leader during a meeting held on Thursday.
"There was a meeting of the National Conference's Legislative Party, and the Legislative Party decided on its leader. I am deeply grateful to the National Conference legislators for reposing faith in me, trusting me, and giving me the chance to go to Raj Bhavan and stake a claim to form the government," Omar Abdullah, the vice president of JKNC, expressed his gratitude following his election.