Abdullah, 56, posted four photographs of the couple on X on October 31, writing, “A new journey began yesterday,” and tagging Razdan. The message referred to their marriage on Friday, October 30, ending speculation prompted by the photographs and their understated captions.
Razdan, 49, separately shared pictures on her account with the words, “It’s done bro,” tagging Abdullah. The two announcements circulated online, drawing congratulations and discussion about the marriage of a serving chief minister and a former television news anchor. The public response included messages from political figures as well as followers familiar with Razdan’s journalism career.
The marriage was solemnised under the Special Marriage Act in New Delhi, with members of both families serving as witnesses. Wedding functions were held in Srinagar and the national capital, attended by close relatives rather than a large public gathering. The arrangements kept the ceremony itself separate from the wider attention that followed once the couple published their photographs.
Among those present were Abdullah’s parents, National Conference president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and Mollie Abdullah, as well as his three sisters. Razdan’s parents, veteran journalist M K Razdan and Sarla Razdan, also attended the celebrations.
The couple did not initially accompany their photographs with an extended announcement detailing the ceremony. Abdullah’s reference to a new journey and Razdan’s informal response nevertheless made the occasion clear, while the images offered a public glimpse of a marriage conducted within a family setting. Neither caption offered a personal statement, and the couple relied on photographs to convey the news.
The development follows the dissolution of Abdullah’s previous marriage to Payal Abdullah by the Supreme Court in July. On July 31, the court was informed that the estranged couple had reached a settlement and agreed to end their marriage by mutual consent.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Abdullah, informed the court that the parties had resolved their differences and agreed to withdraw pending proceedings against each other. The settlement brought an end to a prolonged matrimonial dispute that had passed through lower courts and the Delhi High Court.
Abdullah and Payal married in 1994 and have two sons, Zahir and Zamir. They had lived separately for years before their divorce was finalised. The earlier proceedings had involved Abdullah’s unsuccessful attempt to obtain a divorce on grounds contested by his estranged wife.
This is the second marriage for both Abdullah and Razdan. Their announcement was therefore a personal development rather than a government decision, although Abdullah’s position and Razdan’s established public profile ensured that the photographs attracted attention well beyond their immediate circles.
Abdullah heads the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir and leads the National Conference, the party associated with his father Farooq Abdullah. His public communications ordinarily address political developments, administrative decisions and matters affecting the Union Territory, making Saturday’s personal message a departure from his usual announcements.
Razdan built her reputation as a television journalist and news presenter during a long association with NDTV. She served as an executive editor and anchored programmes covering politics, public affairs and national developments before leaving the broadcaster. Her work made her familiar to television audiences, particularly through political interviews and discussions involving competing viewpoints.
The wedding photographs showed the couple together in ceremonial attire. Their publication on their respective accounts provided direct confirmation of the marriage, rather than leaving followers dependent on interpretations of a cryptic message or unverified online claims.
The timing of the posts was also significant: Abdullah used the word “yesterday” on Saturday, identifying Friday as the beginning of the new chapter. That sequence corresponded with the date of the ceremony and clarified the meaning of his otherwise brief message.
The wedding functions brought together relatives from Srinagar and New Delhi. The participation of family members as witnesses reflected the private arrangements surrounding the formalisation of the marriage, while the subsequent social media posts made the occasion public.
Razdan had previously been married to journalist and writer Neelesh Misra. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2007. Her father, M K Razdan, is also a journalist, giving the family longstanding connections with the profession in which she established her career.
