Chief Minister Omar Abdullah believes they will. During the ongoing budget session, he announced that the business rules have been prepared and are now awaiting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s approval.
He said these rules are expected to bring administrative clarity until statehood is restored. “Until we regain statehood, it is essential to establish business rules for clarity," he said. "It took some time, but we convened a cabinet meeting and finalised the business rules.”
#WATCH | Speaking in J&K Assembly, CM Omar Abdullah comments on EAM Dr S Jaishankar's recent statement on PoK
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2025
He says, "...Foreign Minister has said that they will bring back the portion of Kashmir (controlled by Pakistan). Did we ever stop them? If you (Central govt) can bring… pic.twitter.com/8exQTINWmM
Abdullah expressed confidence that Sinha would approve the rules, which he believes will reduce confusion in governance. “As long as this system remains in place, it should operate smoothly without any confusion," he said. "Although I view this arrangement as temporary, implementing business rules is preferable to diminish confusion.”
Since Abdullah and his five-member cabinet took office, the dual power structure has faced criticism, with the elected government feeling restricted in its ability to function independently.
In February, Abdullah called the power-sharing arrangement between himself and Sinha a “recipe for disaster,” arguing that governance is more effective under a single command structure than a hybrid system. The dual governance model has also been criticised by political parties, including the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who argue that it slows decision-making and reduces administrative efficiency.
Observers suggest that the new rules will give Abdullah, his cabinet, and MLAs more flexibility.
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However, Abdullah has faced repeated criticism from the opposition for not being vocal enough in demanding the restoration of statehood. The PDP and People’s Conference (PC) leader Sajad Lone, in particular, have accused him of collaborating with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Even within his party, concerns have been raised that bureaucrats are not cooperating with ministers to address constituency issues. Speaking in the assembly, Abdullah expressed hope that statehood would be restored within a year of his assuming office.
Until then, he expects that the rules established by his cabinet will provide greater freedom to function. However, observers believe that without statehood, the elected government will continue to struggle in making major decisions and fulfilling promises to the people.
