Bula Devi reports from New Delhi
New Delhi Oct16:- The Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on the banks of the world famous Dal Lake has been decked up for the oath taking ceremony on Wednesday (October 16), marking the first democratically-elected government in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory in six years and the first after Article 370 was consigned to history.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah and his council of ministers at 11.30 am. Following the function, high tea has been arranged at the back lawn of the SKICC auditorium. This will be Omar Abdullah’s second tenure as the chief minister. He was at the helm in 2009-2015 when J&K was a state.
A large number of dignitaries, including political leaders from the INDIA bloc such as Rahul Gandhi from the Congress and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, are expected at the ceremony. Besides senior bureaucrats, J&K political party leaders are expected to attend the function. The media has also been invited, however, in limited numbers unlike previously when all accredited journalists were invited to attend the function.
Huge challenges lie before the chief minister-designate as many key administrative powers such as transfer of bureaucrats, law and order, etc will not be under him as J&K has been downgraded from a state to a Union Territory. But he will have authority over power, water, roads etc, allowing his government to redress complaints of the public on these fronts.
His truncated powers are akin to that of the Delhi chief minister. For Omar, it will be a “huge come down” from his earlier stint as at that time he was the CM of a full-fledged state. “Now for every transfer he will have to seek appointment with the L-G. Besides, police will not be in his control and law and order is very important in Jammu and Kashmir. Will Omar be able to function smoothly in such circumstances? That needs to be watched,” said an observer.
Other than administrative challenges, politically also he may have to walk a tight rope as the electoral mandate of the Jammu region is heavily tilted in the BJP’s favour. He will have to ensure that his government’s policies are not seen to be skewed in favour of the Kashmir region.
Even government formation is likely to be tricky. He can accommodate only 9-10 ministers, including himself, in which he will have to keep his own party members in good humour. He will have to give representation to North Kashmir, South Kashmir and the Chenab Valley region. From the Chenab Valley, the National Conference bagged seven seats and, sources say, he is likely to give representation to the Gujjar and Bakarwal communities.
It is said Omar has kept his cards close to his chest. Omar has been in consultation with his father and president of the NC, Farooq Abdullah, throughout, especially since he lost the Lok Sabha elections to Engineer Rashid.
It is said that Jammu can get represented by giving a cabinet berth to Independents who have extended support to the NC. As far as the Congress is concerned it will not be surprising if Tariq Hameed Karra is not accommodated in the council of ministers as he is the JKPCC president, according to Jammu and Kashmir watchers. So is the case with Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who is the AICC general secretary and incharge of Jharkhand where elections were announced on Tuesday.
There is speculation about Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, an ex-minister and former JKPCC president. However, it is unclear who will finally be picked for a ministerial post.
ENDS
