Delhi:

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah instructed police in the Union Territory to not demarcate a “green corridor” or stop traffic when he travels by road, in one of the first orders after taking oath on Wednesday.

Mr Abdullah urged his Cabinet colleagues to follow “people-friendly” conduct, as their aim is to serve the people and not inconvenience them. He also said that use of stick or aggressive gestures during road movements is to be avoided.

I have spoken to the DG @JmuKmrPolice that there is to be no “green corridor” or traffic stoppage when I move anywhere by road. I have instructed him to minimise public inconvenience & the use of sirens is to be minimal. The use of any stick waving or aggressive gestures is to be…

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 16, 2024

The National Conference leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by the LG Manoj Sinha at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. Surinder Kumar, MLA from Nowshera in Jammu, was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir along with other ministers.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders of INDIA bloc were also present for the swearing in ceremony. However, the Congress sat out of the state Cabinet.

After taking oath, Omar Abdullah received a guard of honour at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and held his first maiden meeting with secretaries of various departments.

Omar Abdullah, who is heading the National Conference-led government in the state, has backing of other parties in INDIA alliance and four independents. The NC-Congress alliance won majority in the assembly polls, together bagging 48 of 90 Assembly seats.

The BJP put up a impressive performance bagging 29 seats. Peoples’ Democratic Party won three seats and one seat each was won by the People’s Conference, CPI-M and AAP. Seven seats were won by the Independents.

The results of the three-phased elections in Jammu and Kashmir were declared on October 8. This was the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

As counting of votes cast in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections got underway on Tuesday, J&K National Conference (JKNC) vice president Omar Abdullah said he is confident that the NC will secure a victory in the polls.

Expressing his trust in democracy, Omar Abdullah “Poll rigging should not happen. People’s mandate should be respected,” he told NDTV, as counting got underway in the state, indicating a close fight.

#WATCH | JKNC Vice President and party’s candidate from Ganderbal & Budgam, Omar Abdullah says, ” We have the hope that we will win. The decision made by the voters of J&K, we will get to know by today afternoon. There should be transparency…if people’s mandate is against BJP,… pic.twitter.com/hZcv7EUhN9

— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024

Ahead of the commencement of counting of votes, Omar Abdullah had taken to social media platform X. stating that he hoped the results would reflect the “good fight”.

JKNC chief Farooq Abdullah said on Monday that his party is open to a strategic post-poll alliance with the PDP to keep the BJP out of power. He also ruled out any chance of staking claim to the Chief Minister’s post should his alliance win the election.

Here’s wishing all my colleagues and allies the very best of luck for today. We fought the good fight & now, InshaAllah, the results will reflect that.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 8, 2024

When asked about any possible alliance with PDP, JKNC Vice President and party’s candidate from Ganderbal & Budgam, Omar Abdullah says, ” Neither have we asked for any support from them nor have we received any support…let the result come. Not sure why we are so restless, let the result come, right now nobody has the number…right now we are not in need (of their support)…once the result is out, we will analyse…”

The JKNC was among the parties that contested the first polls to be held in the Union Territory in 10 years. The assembly elections for its 90 constituencies were held in three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1.

While the JKNC contested in alliance with the Congress, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contested separately. The Congress-JKNC combine is predicted to win the most seats in Jammu and Kashmir, according to a poll of polls.

Key candidates contesting Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections are Omar Abdullah, who is fighting from the Budgam and Ganderbal seats, Sajad Gani Lone of People’s Conference (from Handwara and Kupwara seats), Congress’ Tariq Hamid Karra (from Batamaloo) and BJP state president Ravinder Raina (Nowshera seat).

Follow Jammu Kashmir Election Results LIVE Updates Here

The other notable contestants are Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir (Dooru), PDP leaders Waheed Para (Pulwama), Iltija Mufti (Bijbehara), who is the daughter of Mehbooba Mufti  Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari (Chanapora), CPI(M) veteran Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (Kulgam) and former deputy J&K chief ministers Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tara Chand.