The Congress leader was sworn in by Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha as the tenth Jammu and Kashmir chief minister on Wednesday evening.
SRINAGAR: Ghulam Nabi Azad was on Wednesday sworn in as the tenth Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
The oath of office and secrecy were administered to Azad by Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention complex on the banks of the Dal Lake at 5.15 pm.
Besides Azad, those who took oath as cabinet ministers are five PDP leaders, including Muzaffar Hussain Baig, four Congressmen, including Mangat Ram Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister in the previous government, two Independents from Ladakh and one from Peoples Democratic Forum, floated by Independent legislators.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, former chief ministers Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Farooq Abdullah and All India Congress Committee General Secretary in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir Ambika Soni were among those who attended the swearing-in.
The Congress assumed power in Jammu and Kashmir after about 30 years with the swearing in of Azad.
The party was in power in the state till 1975. He is the third Congress leader to become Jammu and Kashmir chief minister; the others being Syed Mir Qasim and Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, who was the first chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir as before his tenure the state used to have a prime minister and a Sadar-e- Riyasat (President of the State) in place of the Governor.
Sadiq, who was instrumental in laying the foundation of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, headed the state from March 30, 1965 to December 12, 1971.
Qasim was the last Congress chief minister from December 1971 to February 24, 1975 when he resigned to facilitate power transfer to National Conference leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah following the Indira Gandhi-Sheikh accord of November 13, 1975.
However, the Congress withdrew support to the government on March 25, 1977. The next day, the Assembly was dissolved and Governor's rule was proclaimed in the state for the first time.
Sheikh Abdullah again held the chief minister's post from July 9, 1977 till his death on September 8, 1982.
After Sheikh Abdullah's death, his son Farooq Abdullah became chief minister on September 8, 1982.
The NC contested the sixth Assembly elections in June 1983 in alliance with the Congress. The NC secured 46 seats followed by the Congress with 26 seats.
However, the Farooq Abdullah-led government was dismissed on July 2, 1984 and his brother-in-law Ghulam Mohammad Shah was sworn-in as chief minister with support from the Congress. Shah ruled from July 2, 1984 to March 6, 1986.
On March 6, 1986, the Congress withdrew support to the G M Shah government while the Assembly was kept under suspended animation and Governor's rule imposed once again in the state.
The state was later placed under President's rule in September the same year for the first time after expiry of the six-month Governor's rule.
Two months later on November 7, 1986 President's rule was revoked after the Rajiv Gandhi-Farooq Accord, paving way for the NC-Congress alliance to take over the reins of the administration.
In the March 1987 polls, the NC-Congress alliance returned to power. The NC bagged 39 seats while the Congress won 24 seats in the mid term poll.
On March 26 the same year, the coalition ministry headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah was sworn-in.
However, in January 1990 Jagmohan was re-appointed as the Governor of the state which prompted a protest resignation from Dr Abdullah. The state was once again placed under Governor's Rule and the Assembly kept in suspended animation.
On February 19, 1990, the State Assembly was dissolved by Jagmohan.
The NC government led by Dr Abdullah again took the reins on October 9, 1996 and continued till October 18, 2002.
After the 2002 Assembly elections threw up a hung House, the Congress entered into a post-poll alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party.
A power-sharing agreement was reached between the two parties under which each party would rule the state for three years.
Both the PDP and the Congress agreed to hold the post of Chief Minister on a three-year rotational basis.
Despite being the senior partner, the Congress allowed the PDP to govern the state for the first three-year term which ended on Wednesday.
DMK President M Karunanidhi greeted Azad and said his experience and wisdom would help meet any challenge and solve problems.
In his message, the DMK chief said, "It is a challenging assignment. The long and brilliant experience you have acquired so far and your outstanding wisdom will be of great help to meet any challenge and solve any problem."
"I wish you a very comfortable and happy stay, which will definitely be devoted to the cause and development of the Kashmir Valley," he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh wished Ghulam Nabi Azad all success as the tenth chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a message to Azad, Singh also recalled his (Azad's) valuable contributions as a member of the Union Cabinet and his commendable management of proceedings in Parliament since May 2004.
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