Surinder Choudhary appointed Deputy CM, Congress opts out of Cabinet for now
SRINAGAR, OCT 16 – Omar Abdullah of the National Conference was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, marking the first elected government in the Union Territory in six years. Surinder Singh Choudhary, who gained prominence by defeating BJP state chief Ravinder Raina, has been appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister, ensuring representation for Jammu in the new administration.
The Congress party has chosen to refrain from joining the new Cabinet for the time being, citing its demand for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, a promise made by the Centre. The party reiterated its commitment to advocate for this cause.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath to Abdullah at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, situated on the scenic banks of Dal Lake. The event saw the presence of prominent leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Congress figures Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, DMK’s Kanimozhi, and NCP’s Supriya Sule.
Five MLAs were sworn in during the ceremony, including Satish Sharma (Independent), Sakina Itoo, Javid Dar, Surinder Singh Choudhary, and Javid Rana (all from the National Conference). Four Cabinet positions remain vacant, with plans for expansion in the near future.
In his inaugural remarks, Chief Minister Abdullah emphasized the importance of ensuring that Jammu feels adequately represented within the government. “We will not let Jammu feel that they do not have a voice or representation. We have appointed a Deputy CM to ensure this, and this will be our commitment moving forward,” he stated.
This marks Abdullah’s second term as Chief Minister; he previously held office from 2009 to 2014 when Jammu and Kashmir was still a state. He is the first individual to assume the role after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which transformed Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory. Prior to his swearing-in, Abdullah paid tribute at the mausoleum of his grandfather and National Conference founder, Sheikh Abdullah.
Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra announced that the party, which secured six seats in the Assembly elections, will not join the Cabinet at this time, insisting on the need for the restoration of statehood. “The Congress has consistently demanded that the Centre restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, as promised by the Prime Minister in public forums,” Karra explained.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of progress on this front, he added, “Therefore, we will not join the ministry at this moment. The Congress will continue its fight for statehood.”
Omar Abdullah addressed speculations about tensions between the National Conference and Congress, clarifying that while the Congress is not currently part of the Cabinet, discussions are ongoing regarding their potential support. He confirmed that he would leave some Cabinet vacancies open as talks with Congress continue.
In the recent Assembly elections, held after a decade, the National Conference-Congress alliance secured 48 out of 90 seats, with the National Conference emerging as the largest party by winning 42 seats while Congress claimed six.
