Omar Abdullah sworn in as J&K’s youngest CM

National Conference president Omar Abdullah was on Monday sworn in as the youngest-ever Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir by state Governor NN Vohra. Putting to rest speculations about the appointment of a Deputy Chief Minister, Tarachand of the Congress took oath as Omar’s deputy.

Ten ministers were also sworn in along with Omar and Tarachand – five each from the two parties. Six-time MLA Abdul Rahim Rather took oath as a Minister of State. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Other ministers who also sworn-in were three-time MLA and former JKPCC Chief Peerzadas Mohmmad Sayeed, Taj Mohideen, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Shyam Lal Sharma, all Congress, and Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mian Altaf, Surjeet Salathia from NC, to be ministers in the J-K government.

Thirty-eight-year-old Omar was invited by Governor Vohra last night to form the government in the state. The invitation followed NC chief’s meeting with the Governor to formally stake claim to form the government.

Omar was, earlier, unanimously elected as the leader of the NC Legislature Party at its meeting on Sunday. His name was proposed by his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and seconded unanimously by the remaining 25 Legislators.

"I am confident to deliver in the state and come up to the expectation of the people of the state", said Omar who got a rapturous welcome on reaching the border state's winter capital yesterday.

Yesterday, PDP pulled out of the ruling Congress-led UPA coalition over its new alliance with National Conference with party president Mehmooba Mufti writing a letter to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.