Tue Oct 08 12:51:55 UTC 2024: ## Omar Abdullah to Become Jammu and Kashmir’s Next Chief Minister
**Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir:** Following the resounding victory of the National Conference (NC) and its alliance partner, the Congress Party, in Tuesday’s elections, NC chief Farooq Abdullah has confirmed that his son, Omar Abdullah, will be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The people have delivered their verdict,” said Farooq Abdullah, addressing the media. “They have proven that they will not accept the decision taken on August 5th (referring to the abrogation of Article 370). Omar Abdullah will be the Chief Minister.”
Omar Abdullah, who contested from two constituencies, Budgam and Ganderbal, has secured a comfortable lead. With 15 rounds of counting completed, he is ahead by 18,485 votes in Budgam and by 9,766 votes in Ganderbal.
Early on, Omar Abdullah took a jab at exit polls, which had predicted a hung assembly. He tweeted, “I always say exit polls are a waste of time.” The NC-Congress alliance has secured a clear majority, winning over 52 seats out of the 90, easily crossing the halfway mark. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in 27 seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mehbooba Mufti appears to have secured only two seats.
Celebrations have erupted across Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first assembly elections in the region after a decade. The people are looking forward to a new era of stability and progress under the leadership of Omar Abdullah.
First Piper 