Omar Abdullah vacates Budgam Assembly seat, retains Ganderbal; J&K MLAs administered oath

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference workers during a party meeting. The newly elected members of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were administered oath by Pro-tem Speaker Mubarak Gul, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah taking the pledge in the Kashmiri language. The Chief Minister won both the Budgam and Ganderbal Assembly constituencies in the elections. The National Conference now has a reduced strength in the House but still has a comfortable majority with the support of other parties. Omar Abdullah, who had faced criticism for not being fluent in Kashmiri, took the oath in Kashmiri language, showing his dedication to improving his language skills. The oath-taking ceremony marked an end to a six-year-long legislative hiatus.