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| CM Omar reshuffles cabinet, inducts 4 NC ministers, drops lone independent MLA | | Sagar, Shamima, Saifullah, Kalloo get berth; Satish Sharma dropped | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 27: More than two years after taking charge as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah on Tuesday redrew his Council of Ministers, bringing in four National Conference (NC) leaders and showing the door to the government’s only independent minister.
The new inductees are veteran party leader Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Kalloo. Independent MLA Satish Sharma, who represents Chamb in Jammu district, was dropped from the Council.
The regional balance of the new entrants is notable. Two come from Srinagar district: Sagar, MLA from Khanyar, and Firdous, MLA from Habba Kadal. The two others are Saifullah, who represents Trehgam in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, and Kalloo, MLA from Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at the Lok Bhavan Auditorium. Omar Abdullah, accompanied by members of his team, reached the venue earlier in the morning as guests and invitees gathered for the ceremony.
The exercise is aimed at tightening the government’s ministerial team and strengthening its administrative and political functioning. Besides the induction of new faces and the exit of one minister, a redistribution of portfolios is part of the wider exercise. The allocation is expected to define the roles of the new ministers and the existing members of the Council.
The expansion carries political weight, too. The government continues to function within the constitutional and administrative framework of the Union Territory, and the restoration of full statehood remains a central issue in J&K’s political discourse.
Notably, the Congress has decided to stay out of the Cabinet expansion, reiterating that restoration of full statehood remains its key demand. The party has held to this position even though it extends outside support to the government. Its stand underlines continuing differences over statehood, even as the NC presses ahead with changes to its ministerial team.
The final composition of the Cabinet, the formal assumption of charge by the new ministers and the allocation of portfolios are awaited.
NC leader Tanvir Sadiq congratulated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the new ministers. In a post on X, he wrote: “Congratulations to HCM Omar Abdullah Sahab and all the members of the new Cabinet. Wishing you all the very best as you take on the responsibility of serving the people of Jammu & Kashmir. May your tenure be guided by commitment, compassion and meaningful work towards a more prosperous and empowered J&K.” |
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