Surinder Kumar Choudhary (born 1968) is an Indian politician, currently serving as the deputy chief minister of the Jammu and Kashmir since 16 October 2024.[1] He has been a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly since 8 October 2024, representing the Nowshera assembly constituency as a member of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. Choudhary previously served as a member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP).[2][3]
Surinder Kumar Choudhary | |
|---|---|
| 1st Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (Union Territory) | |
| Assumed office 16 October 2024 | |
| Lieutenant Governor | Manoj Sinha |
| Chief Minister | Omar Abdullah |
| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | |
| Assumed office 8 October 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ravinder Raina |
| Constituency | Nowshera |
| Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council | |
Former | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 56) Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Political party | Jammu & Kashmir National Conference |
| Other political affiliations | People's Democratic Party (PDP) |
| Residence | Village Nonial, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Profession | Politician |
Career
editBefore joining politics, Choudhary was an employee of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu. He contested his first Assembly election in 2009 from Nowshera. In 2014 elections, he was a Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party candidate for Nowshera assembly constituency and lost to Ravinder Raina of BJP by a margin of 10000 votes.[4] In April 2022, Choudhary resigned from PDP and joined BJP. He was general secretary of PDP at the time of his resignation. Choudhary cited reasons such as "people's love and affection" for delimitation under BJP government which divided Nowshera and Sunderbani into two distinct assembly constituencies.[4] However, he quit BJP to join National Conference in July 2023, accusing Raina of "promoting family" and "corruption".[5][4]
In 2024 Assembly election, Choudhary contested again from Nowshera as a National Conference candidate and polled a total of 35,069 votes, defeating Ravinder Raina by a margin of 7819 votes.[6]
Deputy chief minister
editOn 16 October 2024, Choudhary was sworn in as the deputy chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir in a ceremony held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC). The ceremony was presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Choudhary was joined by Sakeena Masood, Javid Ahmad Dar, Javed Ahmed Rana and Satish Sharma on the dias to take the oath of office as ministers.[7] On 18 October 2024, an order was issued by Lieutenant Governor Sinha to allocate portfolios to council of ministers on the advice of chief minister. Choudhary was given the charge of Public Works (R&B), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Who Is Surinder Choudhary? Nowshera MLA Picked As J&K's New Deputy CM By Omar Abdullah". zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
- ^ "Nowshera Election Result 2024 LIVE Update: Assembly Winner, Leading, MLA, Margin, Candidates". News18. 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ "Nowshera vidhan sabha chunav result 2024 live : Surinder Kumar Choudhary From Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Won The Election". Zee News. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ a b c "J&K's new Deputy CM is recent import to NC from BJP, Omar says 'kept promise to Jammu'". The Indian Express. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ "Who is Surinder Kumar Choudhary? Here is why Omar Abdullah picked Nowshera MLA as J&K Deputy CM". The Week. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ "Who is who in Omars cabinet". Greaterkashmir. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ^ Ashiq, Peerzada. "Omar Abdullah sworn in as J&K CM; Surinder Kumar Choudhary is Deputy CM". The Hindu.
- ^ PTI (2024-10-18). "J&K L-G allocates portfolios; who gets what in newly inducted Omar Abdullah-led cabinet". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-10-18.