On October 16, 2024, Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, heading the first government elected after the abrogation of Article 370 and scrapping of its special status. A year later, the National Conference (NC) leader admits his situation, in the absence of statehood, is more difficult than he anticipated, and suggests that the Valley’s patience is running thin. Excerpts from an interview:

* Looking back, do you think you estimated the challenges of being CM of a Union Territory correctly, or has it been more difficult?

In some ways, I had no illusions that it was going to be difficult… And yes, it is fair to say I didn’t expect it to be as difficult as it has turned out to be, given that the J&K Reorganisation Act is pretty clear cut… The police and law

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