New Delhi: Congress leader P. Chidambaram has raised concerns about the diminished role of the Chief Minister in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, after the absence of Omar Abdullah from a recent security review meeting led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Chidambaram took to X (formerly Twitter) to question the authority of the newly elected Chief Minister, noting that Abdullah was conspicuously absent from a key law and order meeting. The session, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, has sparked debate over the limited powers of the region’s elected officials.

“The photograph of the LG of Jammu and Kashmir presiding over a meeting to review the law and order situation in J and K is telling. The elected chief minister is not present. Whether he was invited or not, I do not know,” Chidambaram posted, highlighting a perceived marginalization of elected officials in governance matters.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir as a “half-state,” Chidambaram pointed out that under current legislation, control over the police and public order is vested with the Lieutenant Governor. “The people have elected a chief minister and government to look after their security, among other things, but the chief minister has no authority. This is why J and K is described as half a state,” he stated.

Chidambaram also reiterated his call for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that empowering local governance is essential for effective administration and security.