Despite an electoral alliance, the Congress Party chooses to provide external support while the National Conference celebrates a decisive victory in Jammu and Kashmir

In a significant political development, the Congress Party will not join the new government in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), opting instead to support the administration from the outside. This decision comes despite the party’s alliance with Chief Minister-elect Omar Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) in last month’s elections, which saw the NC secure a dominant victory.

The National Conference won 42 out of 90 seats in the recently concluded J&K elections, while Congress, which had anticipated a stronger showing, ended up with only six seats. Sources confirmed to NDTV that Congress declined the offer of a single ministerial berth in the new government, underscoring a shift in its political strategy.

Shortly after the announcement, Omar Abdullah remarked that the NC is currently in discussions with Congress regarding their role and status. Nonetheless, the Congress Party’s top leadership is set to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Abdullah, which will also see the induction of eight ministers into the new government.

Expected attendees at the ceremony include Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Invitations have also been extended to leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and DMK chief MK Stalin. Additionally, Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, who are allies of Congress in the forthcoming Maharashtra elections, are anticipated to be present.

Omar Abdullah’s swearing-in marks a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir, as he becomes the first elected chief minister in a decade. Following the NC’s electoral success, Abdullah has articulated his commitment to addressing the long-standing issues facing the region, particularly the restoration of J&K’s statehood—a status revoked following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

Reflecting on his party’s victory, Abdullah stated, “We have a lot to do. We have to give people hope… that this is their government, and they will be heard. They were not heard for the past five-six years.” His remarks underscore a renewed focus on governance and community engagement in a region that has seen considerable political upheaval in recent years.

In a remarkable turnaround, Abdullah rebounded from a loss in the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat earlier this year to win both the Budgam and Ganderbal Assembly constituencies in this election cycle, solidifying his position as a key player in J&K’s political landscape.