Srinagar, Oct 12: Chief Minister designate Omar Abdullah today said the new government’s swearing-in ceremony will most likely be held on Wednesday.
“Don’t compare government formation to technology. We’re following procedures, and Jammu and Kashmir is under presidential rule. Formalities will be completed by Tuesday, and the cabinet note will be sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan and then to the Home Ministry. With Allah’s will, we’ll take the oath on Wednesday,” Omar told reporters on the sidelines of a Legends League Cricket match at Bakhshi Stadium in Srinagar.
Omar also recalled the famous Fax fiasco incident urging reporters not to compare government formation to technology. “Once, we tried forming a government via fax machine, but it broke down. And if you suggest running our government through fax, you’ll ruin us,” he said.
On Friday, the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance staked the claim to form government in Jammu and Kashmir as chief minister-designate Omar Abdullah called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha here.
During his meeting with Sinha, Abdullah presented the letters of support from the coalition partners, hours after Congress extended its support to the NC vice president.
“Earlier this evening, Chief Minister-designate @OmarAbdullah called on the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, @manojsinha_, at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar to stake his claim to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir. He also submitted all the letters of support. The Raj Bhawan (@OfficeOfLGJandK) has informed that the procedure for the revocation of the President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir commenced tonight and is expected to take 3-4 days. The Chief Minister and his ministers will take the oath as soon as these procedures are completed,” NC tweeted.
A government spokesman said Omar Abdullah called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan. Omar handed over a letter from the Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah stating that he has been elected as Leader of the Legislature Party of JKNC. Letters of support from INC, CPI(M), AAP, and independent members were also handed over to the Lieutenant Governor.
Abdullah was unanimously elected as the leader of the NC legislature party on Thursday, paving the way for his second term as the chief minister of J-K.
His first tenure as the chief minister was also as the head of the NC-Congress coalition government from 2009 to 2014.
The NC won 42 of the 90 seats for which elections were held in three phases with the alliance partner Congress bagging six seats. Although the two parties have a majority in the 95-member House, four Independents and the lone AAP MLA have also extended their support to the NC.
Talking to reporters at his residence after returning from the Raj Bhavan, Abdullah said he requested the LG to fix a date for the new government’s swearing-in at the earliest.
“I met the LG and presented the letters of support from the NC, Congress, CPI(M), AAP, and Independents who have supported the NC. I requested him to fix a date as soon as possible so that the oath ceremony takes place and the government elected by the people starts functioning,” the CM-designate said.
He said the oath ceremony is likely to take place on Wednesday.
“This process will take some time. It is not that an elected government is replacing another elected government. This is a central rule, we are a Union Territory, and the LG has to prepare documents and send them to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“From the Rashtrapati Bhavan, they will go to the Home Ministry where they will do their paperwork and then the documents will be sent back. We have been told that it will take at least three days. I hope that if this process is completed at the earliest, then the oath ceremony will take place on Wednesday,” Abdullah added.
