Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, marking the formation of a new local government after a five-year gap since the region lost its autonomy, according to Arab News. Abdullah, who previously served from 2009 to 2014, now leads the National Conference party, which secured 42 out of 90 assembly seats in the recent elections.
In his address, Abdullah expressed hope that the union territory status would be temporary and called for the restoration of statehood to better address local concerns. Since the repeal of Article 370 in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has been under New Delhi’s direct control, with the lieutenant governor retaining significant authority. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Abdullah and pledged cooperation for the region’s development.
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