*Surinder Choudhary named Deputy CM
Srinagar : Omar Abdullah, vice president of the National Conference (NC), was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, marking his second term after first holding office in 2009.
Surinder Kumar Choudhary, a prominent leader from the Jammu region, took oath as Deputy Chief Minister during the ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC).
The event, presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, also saw the swearing-in of five ministers: Satish Sharma, Sakina Yatoo, Javid Dar, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and Javid Rana. Choudhary secured his position as DCM after defeating BJP’s Ravinder Raina in the Nowshera constituency.
Members of the Congress party stayed away from the ceremony in protest, demanding the restoration of J&K’s statehood.
Omar Abdullah’s return to office is significant as he becomes the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, operating under the modified governance framework with enhanced powers granted to the Lieutenant Governor.
