SRINAGAR: Following the formation of the new government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Srinagar’s Civil Secretariat has seen a surge in visitors, marking renewed public engagement with the region’s highest seat of governance. People from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir have gathered at the Secretariat, hopeful that the newly elected government will address longstanding issues neglected during the region’s years under non-elected, administrative control.
This renewed activity follows a significant governance gap; Jammu and Kashmir had lacked an elected government since 2018. Abdul Hamid, a resident of Downtown Srinagar, described his recent visit as his first in five years. “We have been facing a water crisis, but after meeting a minister last week, we were assured that the issue would be resolved soon,” he said.
On Tuesday, long queues stretched outside the Secretariat as residents waited to raise concerns regarding electricity, water, healthcare, employment, and ration supplies. According to an official at the Secretariat, “The offices have been buzzing with activity. Many people are coming in with concerns about basic amenities and other pressing issues.”
Alongside local residents, members of the Legislative Assembly and other political leaders have been frequenting the Secretariat. On Monday, Chief Minister Abdullah met with various delegations, including youth representatives, to discuss their needs. “The Chief Minister assured them that their genuine demands would be considered and addressed,” the official said, adding that the public is eager for solutions directly from their elected representatives.
A National Conference MLA visiting the Secretariat for the first time in six years emphasised the importance of reconnecting with the public. “In recent years, bureaucrats were often unavailable to the public. But elected representatives have a duty to meet people and understand their demands. We are accountable to them, and they have placed their trust in us,” he added.
The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir changed dramatically in 2018, when the BJP withdrew support from the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition, causing its collapse. The next year, the central government abrogated Article 370, bifurcating the state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Omar Abdullah assumed office as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on October 16, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administering the oath at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre in Srinagar. Alongside Abdullah, five ministers—Sakina Masood (Itoo), Javed Dar, Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, and Satish Sharma—also took their oaths, marking a new chapter for the region.
