In 1974 Indira Gandhi reached an agreement with Sheikh Abdullah and he became the Chief Minister of the State. He revived the National Conference which was elected with majority in the assembly elections held in 1977. Sheikh Abdullah died in 1982 and the leadership of the National Conference went to his son, Farooq Abdullah, who became the Chief Minister. But he soon was dismissed by the Governor and a breakaway faction of the National Conference came to power for a brief period. The dismissal of Farooq Abdullah’s government due to the intervention of the Centre generated a feeling of resentment in Kashmir. The confidence that Kashmiris had developed in the democratic processes after the accord between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah, received a setback. The feeling that the Centre was intervening in politics of the State was further strengthened when the National Conference in 1986 agreed to have an electoral alliance with the Congress, the ruling party in the Centre.

What term did the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir change to designate the head of the state in 1965?

Chief Minister

A change in the provision of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir designated the head as the Chief Minister in place of Prime Minister.

Between 1953 and 1974, the Congress party wielded significant influence over the state's political landscape. During this time, a fragmented National Conference (excluding Sheikh Abdullah) held power for a period with active support from the Congress. Eventually, this faction merged with the Congress, granting the latter direct governance control in the state and instigating changes. During this period, various efforts were made to find a resolution between Sheikh Abdullah and the Indian government. In 1965, an alteration to the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution designated the state's head as the Chief Minister instead of the Prime Minister. Consequently, Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq from the Indian National Congress became the inaugural Chief Minister of the state.