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This is an archive article published on October 16, 2024

As Omar takes oath as J&K CM, here are the ministers in his Cabinet

Surinder Choudhary was sworn in as Deputy CM.

jammu omar abdullah cm Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other leaders at the swearing-in ceremony of new J&K government, in Srinagar, Wednesday, Oct 16, 2024. (PTI)

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah was on Wednesday sworn in as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, becoming the head of the first government of J&K since the abrogation of special status under Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019.

Along with Omar, five other ministers were also sworn in.

Surinder Choudhary was sworn in as Deputy CM. In the Assembly election, he had defeated BJP state president Ravinder Raina from the Nowshera seat in Rajouri.

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The only woman among the five sworn in so far was Sakina Itoo. She won her seat in the Assembly from Noorabad constituency in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, and has served as a minister previously.

Three-time legislator Javed Rana, who won from Mendhar in Rajouri, was also sworn in. He is the National Conference president for the Pir Panjal region, and is credited with the stunning showing that the party put up there in the recent election.

Another former minister, Javed Dar, who is the MLA from Rafiabad in north Kashmir and is the NC’s zonal president, was also sworn in as a minister.

Independent legislator from Chamb in Jammu, Satish sharma, also took oath. He was one of the several Independents to pledge their support to the NC.

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The swearing-in ceremony, held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre, was attended by several INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Left leaders Prakash Karat and D Raja, DMK’s Kanimozhi, and NCP’s Supriya Sule.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also attended the event.

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More

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