NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 21: The Jammu and Kashmir assembly recently convened for the first time in six years, with newly elected members taking their oaths in a formal ceremony officiated by pro-tem speaker Mubarak Gul.
This marks the end of a significant legislative gap in the region, which had been without an active assembly since 2018.
While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took his oath in Kashmiri, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary chose to take his oath in English.
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, a representative from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is the youngest in the assembly. At the other end of the age spectrum, Abdul Rahim Rather, a senior leader from the National Conference (NC), took his oath at the age of 80, becoming the oldest MLA.
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 following elections held in September and October. The NC has formed a coalition government with the support of other political groups, including Congress, independent candidates, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M).
In contrast, the BJP, which has made significant inroads in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, secured 29 seats in this election, marking its strongest performance in the region to date.
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. (News Vibes of India)
