Omar Abdullah to take CM oath today; Rahul, Akhilesh to attend event

SRINAGAR: INDIA bloc heavyweights will be present in strength as National Conference’s Omar Abdullah takes oath as CM of J&K for the second time Wednesday at a venue along the Dal, ending six years of central rule since BJP’s withdrawal from the then coalition govt forced his predecessor Mehbooba Mufti of PDP to resign.

Lok Sabha leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi and AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge will be among those attending the swearing-in at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre from 11.30am.

Sources said at least eight ministers could be sworn in along with Omar. Of the five Independent MLAs backing the alliance, Surinder Choudhary and Satish Sharma are tipped to make the cut.

Sakina Itoo, one among only three women to be elected to the assembly this time, retired judge Hasnain Masoodi, Abdur Rahim Rather, Ali Muhammad Sagar, and Javed Rana are the probables from NC.

Sources said J&K PCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra could be the only one from Congress to get a berth. AAP is also lobbying for a cabinet berth for Mehraj Malik, its lone MLA, who defeated BJP’s Ganjay Singh Rana in Doda.

Congress’s six MLAs and one from CPM are part of the 55-strong alliance in the 95-member assembly, which will also have five members nominated by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha. Congress appointed Tuesday former minister and ex-J&K party chief G A Mir as the leader of the legislature party.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was among the first of NC’s allies from INDIA bloc to troop into town Tuesday for what he said would mark the beginning of a new era for J&K, including “taking the crucial step of restoring statehood”.

DMK’s Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Supriya Sule of NCP, Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Singh Badal, and AAP’s Sanjay Singh are expected, too. CPM’s Prakash Karat is already in Srinagar for the event.

Omar, who faces the challenge of keeping his allies happy despite NC being on strong ground with 42 MLAs, has already lined up a 3pm meeting with the administrative secretaries to outline the govt’s immediate priorities for the Union territory.

Courtesy : TOI

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