National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah is all set to take over as first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory after being unanimously elected as NC Legislature Party Leader (LPL) on Thursday.
The newly-elected legislators of NC participated in a legislature party meeting in Srinagar during which Omar’s election as Legislature Party Leader (LPL) was approved.
Speaking to media about his election, Omar said, “ I am deeply grateful to the National Conference legislators for reposing faith in me, trusting me, and giving me the chance to go to Raj Bhavan and stake a claim to form the government.”
He mentioned discussions are going on with the Congress for their letter of support.
“Talks are going on to get the letter of support from the Congress. After receiving the letter of support from the Congress, we will to go to Raj Bhavan to stake his claim to form the government,” he said.
In the 90-member Assembly, the National Conference secured 42 seats in the recent election. The INDIA bloc has a tally of 49.
The focus of the NC-Congress government would be on restoration of statehood as Omar stated yesterday that whenever a government is formed in Jammu and Kashmir, it should pass a resolution and begin talks with the Union government to restore the region’s statehood.
“Once the government is formed, it should pass a resolution and then engage in talks with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and other ministers in Delhi,” he said.
“We do not seek a major confrontation between the LG and the government. Instead, we aim for peaceful cooperation and to work for the people until we regain our rightful status as a state. We hope to restore statehood as soon as possible,” Omar said.
The NC president Farooq Abdullah today said that top most priority of the new government would be restoration of statehood to J&K.
On August 5, 2019, centre scrapped J&K’s special status and bifurcated erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories.