Viewers , The union Territory Of Jammu and Kashmir has got it’s first chief Minister in Omar Abdullah after abrogation of Article 370 In August 5, 2019 . The National Conference leader incidentally was the last chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 – 2014 wo had full six year term in office ( alliance with Congress) and also in the process becoming the youngest ever 11th Chief Minister of the state. So , Omar has some firsts to his name .
But what makes this comeback as Chief Minister all the more special and sweet is the fact he was written off by political pundits after Article 370 was removed from the state . Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah left no stone unturned to point out the misdeeds of the previous NC and PDP rule in the Jammu and Kashmir during the election rallies in the state . PM Modi thundered that the three families – Gandhi’s along with NC and PDP dynasts had ruined the state . Shah even predicted that NC would be wiped out in the polls.
But 54 year-old Omar had the last laugh as he led a brilliant campaign and himself winning from two seats too – Ganderbal and Budgam . Unfazed by PM Modi’s jibe he repeated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP had nothing else to tell the people of the state except blaming the three families.
BJP had come out all guns blazing with its Naya Kashmir narrative but , what they did was to misread the silent public anger . The arrest of regional party leaders and hundreds of workers after Article 370 abrogation on August 5, 2019. They were Looking for means to voice their anger and the elections was the means. The elections though which was conducted came after direction from the Supreme Court. It was not that the Centre was keen for early polls. SC deadline forced government to act.
Omar’s return as Chief Minister his second stint was not an easy one . On the intervening night of 4 and 5 August 2019, Omar Abdullah was placed under preventive detention by the Indian Government under Section 107 of the CRPC. This came as a backdrop to the government’s decision of scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which gave the state of Jammu & Kashmir semi-autonomous powers. After the expiry of the six-month detention without any charges, Abdullah has been freshly charged and detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) which has been revoked on 24 March 2020.
The detention was enough for people to write his political obituary. And National Conference and Omar’s career looked on shaky ground when he lost the Lok Sabha polls 2024 from Barmulla to Engineer Rashid . But he and his party bounced back in style to form the government.
A minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Omar in a dig wondered how they had become bad in the books of the BJP when they are not with them. Omar also reminded the people the at the BJP had done business with not only National Conference but with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP too .So this angst on them was rather ironical or sheer hypocrisy.
Omar’s political sojourn in- fact began under NDA led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 1998, at the age of 28, Omar Abdullah was elected to the 12th Lok Sabha, becoming the youngest member. In 1998–99, he was a member of both the Committee on Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism’s Consultative Committee.
In 1999, he was elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term as a Member of Parliament). On 13 October 1999, he took oath as Union Minister of State, Commerce and Industry. On 22 July 2001, he became the youngest Union Minister, when he was made Union Minister of State for External Affairs. He resigned from the post on 23 December 2002, to concentrate on party work.
Omar’s detention by the Centre after Article 370 abrogation allowed him to play the victim card and the people agreed with him . Huge rallies of National Conference in the state during the polls and large crowds in attendance indicated which way the wind was blowing. The Godi media unfortunately did not see these signs.
Known for his cracking a smile, Omar was angry and hurt with what had happened on August 5, 2019 . He reportedly told an interviewer, who asked where has your smile gone ? His blunt reply was – my state has been converted into Union territory and i was put under house arrest for six months and you expect me to smile
And hence it was refreshing to see him and say I’am back after he took charge for the second time as Chief Minister .
I’m back. pic.twitter.com/dJ2TFiFRCn
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 16, 2024
And immediately made a statesmanlike intent . Making Jammu people happy straight away with an inclusive government. Five other ministers also took oath with Omar, three of them from Jammu division and two from Kashmir, as the NC government sought to balance political representation for both provinces of the UT. Surinder Choudhary, who won from Nowshera in Rajouri district of Jammu, was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister.
In his first comments after taking oath, Omar reportedly said, “We will not let Jammu feel that they do not have a voice or representation in the current government. We have brought in a Deputy CM to ensure this and this will be our endeavour going forth as well.
”The MLA from D H Pora in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, Sakina Itoo, was the only woman among the five ministers who took oath . NC MLAs Javed Rana, from Mendhar in Jammu’s Rajouri, and Javed Dar, from Rafiabad in north Kashmir, also took oath. Independent MLA Satish Sharma, who won from Chamb in Jammu, was also inducted into the Cabinet.
Omar returns with challenges ahead, now Union Territory with LG with powers how he balances the equation will be the key ahead. He has made the right intent and the statements too are positive. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a bitter poll campaign congratulated Omar Abdullah in his tweet on X
Congratulations to Shri Omar Abdullah Ji on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Wishing him the very best in his efforts to serve the people. The Centre will work closely with him and his team for J&K’s progress. @OmarAbdullah
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2024
And Omar is clear when he said he is humbled by the massive mandate by the people to National conference and hence it now time to deliver on the promises made. It is a huge responsibility He too knows that with the massive mandate the expectation will be high and the scrutiny intense . And with Godi media waiting in the sidelines eager to count the mistakes Omar has his hands full . But with right mix in cabinet , Omar has begun his second innings well…
