Omar Abdullah took oath as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister today
Srinagar:
Well, well, well! If it isn’t Omar Abdullah back in the driver’s seat of the Jammu and Kashmir government, a role he’s clearly not a stranger to. It’s like putting on an old pair of shoes – slightly worn out but still fitting, if not a little squeaky. On a Wednesday that felt more like a Sunday afternoon talk show, Abdullah chose Surinder Choudhary from Nowshera as his deputy, saying he wanted to give a voice to the people of the region. Did someone get a new megaphone, or are we just excited? Let’s find out.
After being sworn in, Abdullah declared, “Our endeavour will be to take everyone along.” A lovely sentiment, but let’s not kid ourselves. With politics, it’s all about who you take with you for the ride, isn’t it? Choudhary is no stranger to the political arena – he took down the BJP’s J-K president Ravinder Raina in a manner that had to be seen to be believed. And by ‘believed,’ I mean is there a camera crew for this Bollywood-style drama?
In his post-oath remarks, Abdullah emphasized that the people of Jammu must not feel left out. A noble pursuit, indeed. “I’ve chosen a deputy chief minister from Jammu so that the people of Jammu feel that this government is as much theirs as it is of the rest,” he stated. It’s like opening up a community fridge – everyone has to feel included, especially if your leftovers are on display.
For those keeping score, this is the first elected government since 2019 when Article 370 was tossed aside like an unwanted gift at a wedding. And just when you thought the drama was over, let’s talk numbers. In the recent assembly elections, Abdullah’s National Conference scooped up a whopping 42 out of 90 seats, while their buddy in the government, the Congress, bagged a humble six. Together, they wield a majority – that’s one big pie of power, minus a few slices reserved for the guests, of course.
Let’s not forget the details: there are three ministerial vacancies yet to be filled. I suppose we all know about the old saying – ‘good things come to those who wait’… or at least to those who have a good PR team. Stay tuned for those announcements; they could get spicy!
In what could be termed an irony of ironies, it’s intriguing to see a political scene unfolding that feels both familiar and refreshingly new. Only time will tell if Abdullah’s crew can indeed “take everyone along”. That’s a tall order in today’s world of politics where some think ‘unity’ is a type of coffee at hipster cafes. Perhaps a side of humility wouldn’t hurt either. Looks like things are just heating up in Jammu and Kashmir – popcorn anyone?
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
