In a significant political shift, President’s rule has been revoked in Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the Union Territory. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification on Sunday, October 13, 2024, marking the end of central rule that has been in place since the reorganization of the state in 2019.
The official notification, signed by President Droupadi Murmu, states: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 73 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) read with Articles 239 and 239A of the Constitution of India, the order dated the 31st October, 2019, in relation to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall stand revoked immediately before the appointment of the chief minister under Section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.”
Formation of New Government
The revocation comes after the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance secured a majority in the recently concluded 2024 assembly elections. Omar Abdullah, the NC Vice President, was unanimously chosen as the leader of the alliance and is set to become the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This will mark his second term in office, with the first being from 2009 to 2014 under a similar NC-Congress coalition.
Abdullah recently met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to stake a claim to form the government. Following this meeting, he announced that the swearing-in ceremony is tentatively scheduled for October 15 or 16, pending final paperwork.
Historic Elections & Revocation of Article 370
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. This three-phase election, conducted on September 18, September 25, and October 1, 2024, saw a voter turnout of 63.88%, with the third phase registering a turnout of 69.69%.
The National Conference-Congress alliance emerged as the clear victor, winning a total of 48 seats in the 90-member assembly. The NC secured 42 seats, while the Congress managed to win six, with additional support from four independent MLAs and one Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the second-largest party, securing 29 seats.
Path Ahead for the New Government
With the new government taking shape, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah emphasized that their primary goal is to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. “Our priority will be to unite Jammu and Kashmir and end the divisions created during the election. Statehood must be restored so the state can function properly,” he stated.
This political transition marks a pivotal moment in the region's history, as it represents the first elected government since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status. The erstwhile state's reorganization into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—came into effect on October 31, 2019, after the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, in Parliament on August 5, 2019. This legislation also led to the abrogation of Article 370, which had previously granted special status to the region.
Background: A Long Period of Central Rule
Before October 31, 2019, the region was under central rule from June 2017, following the collapse of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP coalition government, led by then-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The political turmoil in 2018 led to the imposition of President's rule, and with the reorganization of the state in 2019, the region was governed directly by the central government for over five years.
The NC-Congress alliance's victory and the revocation of President’s rule now signify a shift towards reinstating democratic processes in Jammu and Kashmir. The formation of a new government is seen as a critical step toward addressing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and working towards the restoration of normalcy in the region.
Stay tuned with "In Bulletin", for more futher detailed updates on J&K politics & International Breaking News.
