Resilient Omar Abdullah set to return as J&K Chief Minister

After becoming India’s youngest chief minister 15 years ago, Omar Abdullah — a key figure in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir and someone known to come back stronger after every defeat — is assuming the same position in the Union Territory again after National Conference (NC) emerged as single largest party to win most seats in the recent assembly elections held after a decade.

Out of 90 assembly seats, Abdullah’s NC won 42 seats, and its alliance partner Congress 6. Just a few months ago, Abdullah 54, despite his privileged pedigree endured an embarrassing defeat in the Lok Sabha elections to jailed Engineer Rashid of Awami Itehad Party (AIP) from the Baramulla constituency.

He used his defeat to the maximum advantage and led the poll campaigning across Jammu and Kashmir securing a maximum number of seats for his party. The recent assembly polls were seen as a battle of prestige for Abdullah. His decision to contest from Ganderbal — a constituency rooted in his family’s political history was on expected lines but his choice to file nomination from Budgam — a seat from where he faced a defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections revealed a cautious strategy.

Despite the challenges, Abdullah secured an impressive victory, signaling his strong comeback and continued relevance in Jammu and Kashmir’s politics.

Interestingly, as the NC basked in the glory of its victory in recently held elections, nearly a decade-old post by Abdullah posted on X went viral on Oct 8 — the day election results were declared. "Keep calm cause (because) I'll be back," Abdullah posted on December 24, 2014, indicating his “party's return to power.”

He had made the post after he faced defeat in the state assembly polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 29 seats — all from the Jammu region and failed to secure even a single seat in Kashmir in the recent assembly polls.

Profound entry into politics at a young age

A scion of the influential Abdullah clan in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah began his political career in 1998, when he was 28. He became the youngest elected Member of Parliament (MP from the heart of Srinagar — Lal Chowk constituency, also, one of the significant eight seats in J&K.

His early success significantly added to his reputation as a rising star in Indian politics and he was re-elected in 1999 where he was appointed Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government.

Born on March 10, 1970, in Rochford, Essex, England, Abdullah was elevated to the role of Union Minister of State for External Affairs in 2001, gaining valuable expertise on the national stage. Amid political turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir, he was elected chief minister in 2008 at the age of 38, making him one of the youngest in Indian history to hold such a position.

The polls, held after the controversial transfer of forest land to the Amarnath Shrine Board, saw Abdullah take charge at a sensitive time — when the region was grappling with political unrest, economic challenges, and security issues.

But for him, it was a challenging tenure as chief minister from 2009 to 2015. He faced numerous hurdles as frequent protests, curfews, and violence periodically engulfed the valley, forcing him to maintain the precarious balance between ensuring security and maintaining political stability in the strife-torn state. Despite the challenges, his leadership made relentless efforts to improve infrastructure, promote tourism, and foster education initiatives.

Abdullah, who has been a Lok Sabha member three times — 1998, 1999, and 2004 — is known to come back stronger after every defeat. He won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections after being defeated in his strong family bastion Ganderbal in the 2002 assembly election by a little-known candidate — Qazi Mohammad Afzal of Peoples Democratic Party.

On 23 June 2002, he became the President of the NC, replacing his father, Farooq Abdullah. He was re-elected as the NC president in 2006.

Education and upbringing

Abdullah completed his early schooling at Burn Hall School, Srinagar, and later went on to Lawrence School, Sanawar, Himachal Pradesh. He then graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Sydenham College, Mumbai. And did a post-graduation in business administration from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland.

Married to Payal Nath in 1994, the couple separated in 2011. Together, they have two sons, Zahir and Zamir, who, like their father, remain connected to the rich political heritage of the Abdullah family.

Mollie Abdullah, his mother, is a British national, and hence Abdullah has had a multicultural upbringing. His grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, also known as the ‘Lion of Kashmir,’ was a towering figure who founded the NC in 1939.

The senior Abdullah’s leadership shaped much of the political discourse in Kashmir. Omar Abdullah’s father, Farooq Abdullah, followed in Sheikh Abdullah’s footsteps and became a dominant force in Jammu and Kashmir politics, serving multiple terms as chief minister.

With Farooq Abdullah stepping back from active leadership a few years ago, the mantle of leading the NC has firmly fallen on Omar’s shoulders. The NC’s pre-poll alliance with Congress resulted in a strong showing, with the party emerging as the largest in the UT.

Junior Abdullah’s leadership is hailed as the start of a new chapter for the region, particularly as he prepares to take on the role of chief minister once again.

Omar's share of setbacks

Abdullah’s political journey has not been without setbacks. In 2002, he lost the Ganderbal Assembly seat. The defeat was a blow to the NC and was seen as a sign of the waning influence of the Abdullah family at the time. However, Omar used this defeat as a learning experience and came back stronger in the 2008 elections, where he reclaimed Ganderbal and led the NC to become the largest party in the state.

The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and reconstituted it as a Union Territory, marked a significant turning point in the region’s politics. Omar, who opposed the move, was detained under preventive arrest.

His decision to not contest the assembly polls initially raised eyebrows, as he declared that he would not contest unless the statehood is restored, considering it beneath the state’s former status.

However, when the Election Commission announced the schedule for the first assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370, Omar decided to contest two seats—Ganderbal and Budgam—and won both while demonstrating resilience and political savvy.

He was re-elected to Lok Sabha and appointed the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in 1999.

Following the Vajpayee-led government's fall after 13 months, Abdullah contested again from Srinagar. In 2001, he was elevated to the role of Union Minister of State for External Affairs. After 18 months, Abdullah quit Parliament to contest state elections.