COMPETING FOR TURF

As a thick late autumn mist envelops the Valley, the first elected government in the Union Territory in six years is still feeling its way around.

- Kaleem Geelani

The new National Conference government's first move was unambiguous enough-a resolution for the restoration of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presented the resolution-passed then duly in the maiden cabinet meeting on October 17-to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah on October 24 in New Delhi. On November 4, the J&K assembly held its first session in six years, with Waheed ur Rehman Parra, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Pulwama, stealing the show by attempting-in vain-to move a resolution against the August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370. However, Omar's elected government knows its limitations-in the UT, key powers rest with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.