Newly elected MLAs take oath as J&K Legislative Assembly meets after 6 years

The Diplomat Desk

CM Omar resigns from Budgam seat, retains Ganderbal; Many legislators take oath in Kashmiri; First Assembly session set to begin from Nov 4

TDD Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 21 (TDD): Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was convened for the first time today after six years with newly elected members being administered oath by the pro-tem speaker Mubarak Gul.
Today’s oath taking ceremony marks the end of a long gap even as the stage is set for the first assembly session from November 4.
While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took his oath in Kashmiri, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary chose to take his oath in English.
CM Omar took oath in Kashmiri so did the NC MLA from Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq.
Among the newly elected members are 51 first-time Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). One of the youngest members is 29-year-old Shagun Parihar of BJP.
Rather has had a long political career, and along with his colleague Ali Mohammad Sagar, he holds the distinction of being elected for seven terms, highlighting their enduring influence in regional politics.
The National Conference (NC) emerged as the largest party in the assembly by bagging 42 seats on its own. Four independent candidates also extended their support to NC.
Besides, NC also got support from Congress that won six seats and CPI(M) that one seat. BJP won 29 seats in this election, marking its best ever performance so far. However, the party’s Lotus failed to bloom in Kashmir despite tall claims of BJP leaders.
Meanwhile, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah has successfully retained the Ganderbal Assembly seat and has resigned from the Budgam Assembly segment. The announcement was made by Pro-tem Speaker Mubarak Gul during the oath-taking ceremony in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Sources said that Omar’s resignation from Budgam will pave way for senior party leader Aga Mehmood to contest from the seat. Aga Mehmood had earlier left the seat for Omar. NC sources said that Omar wasn’t confident about his victory from Ganderbal—(TDD)