National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Wednesday took oath as Chief Minister, marking the first government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of its special status.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Abdullah at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar.
Eight other lawmakers from the NC party will also take their oaths as ministers, following the Congress' decision to support the incoming government from the sidelines, NDTV reported.
The Congress declined an offer for one ministerial position, despite its alliance with Abdullah's party in the recent elections.
Earlier in the day, Omar Abdullah visited the mausoleum of his grandfather Sheikh Abdullah and grandmother near the shrine, and offered 'Fatiha khawani' (special prayers) there, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
He previously served as CM of the state between 2009 and 2015.
In a remarkable turnaround months after losing the Lok Sabha race for north Kashmir's Baramulla seat, Omar Abdullah contested and won the Budgam and Ganderbal assembly seats this month.
Several leaders from the opposition INDIA bloc attended the swearing-in ceremony. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Left leaders Prakash Karat and D Raja, DMK's Kanimozhi and Nationalist Congress Party (SP)'s Supriya Sule were present.
Former J&K CM and People's Democratic Party boss Mehbooba Mufti also attended the event.
The NC won 42 out of the 90 seats in the recent Assembly elections while ally Congress bagged six. Together, the two pre-poll allies hold a majority in the 95-member assembly -- five members are to be nominated by the LG.
In August 2019, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Omar Abdullah will form the first elected government in over six years. The BJP-PDP coalition collapsed in 2018 and the region was placed under President's rule.
(With inputs from PTI)
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