Omar Abdullah announces ‘New Journey’ in life

way2barak, November 1: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday announced his marriage to journalist Nidhi Razdan at a private ceremony here.

“A new journey began yesterday @Nidhi,” Omar posted on X. “It’s done bro @OmarAbdullah,” Nidhi wrote.

Both posts were accompanied by pictures of Omar, 56, and Nidhi, 49, in colourful attire exchanging warm glances while posing for the camera.

Omar was earlier married to Payal Nath, a Punjabi. They have two sons — Zamir and Zahir. The Supreme Court dissolved their marriage this year after a protracted legal battle. Nidhi was previously married to journalist-turned-Bollywood Neelesh Misra.

Inter-community marriages remain a taboo in Kashmir, but political and elite families appear to enjoy greater social latitude. The Abdullah family has several examples of interfaith marriages.

Omar’s father Farooq Abdullah is married to Mollie, a Christian of English origin. Out of his three sisters, only the eldest, Safia, is married to a Kashmiri Muslim. Sara, Omar’s other sister, was married to Congress leader Sachin Pilot. In 2023, Sachin had disclosed in his election affidavit that he was divorced. The other sister, Hina, married a South African and is settled abroad.

Actress turned BJP MP Kangana Ranaut congratulate Omar and Nidhi.

The marriage also follows a recent cabinet shuffle and expansion, which has left several National Conference leaders disgruntled. A group of 18 displeased NC MLAs, almost half the party’s strength, held a meeting on Friday and drew up a list of demands, seeking a comprehensive shuffle and intensification of the struggle for the restoration of Article 370.