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The upcoming swearing-in ceremony of Omar Abdullah as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is poised to be a significant political event, attracting a gathering of prominent national leaders. Sources within the National Conference (NC) have revealed that numerous invitations will be extended to figures representing various political parties, particularly those affiliated with the INDIA alliance. The ceremony is tentatively scheduled to take place at either the Raj Bhawan or the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, next week.
The decision to invite INDIA bloc leaders stems from the fact that both the NC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), two major regional forces in J&K, are members of the broader INDIA alliance. While the PDP contested the recent assembly elections independently and secured three seats, the NC's leadership, under Farooq Abdullah, who also heads the INDIA bloc, will take the initiative to invite alliance members to the ceremony. Notable figures anticipated to receive invitations include West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, M.K. Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, and D Raja.
Beyond the INDIA bloc, invitations will also be extended to leaders of all major political parties in J&K, including prominent figures from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Abdullahs, known for their deep-rooted political connections, will also extend invitations to close family friends, notably the Badal family from Punjab. The presence of such a diverse group of political figures at Omar Abdullah's swearing-in ceremony underscores the significance of the event and its potential impact on the political landscape of J&K and beyond.
Source: INDIA bloc leaders to be invited for Omar’s oath-taking ceremony