Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 12: After deferring it many a time, the expansion to the state Cabinet (earlier scheduled for 10th January), is likely to happen on January 15 at 10.30 at Raj Bhavan, Jammu where Governor NN Vohra shall administer oath of office and secrecy to new Ministers.
However, there may be some last minute changes in the schedule due to the allocation of portfolios and reshuffle as every aspirant is lobbying in New Delhi to get the desired portfolio.
Meanwhile, NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah and PCC chief, Professor Saif-ud-Din Soz are arriving here tomorrow to attend meetings which could also provide an opportunity to them to interact with their party men on the issue pertaining to reshufle cum expansion in the State Cabinet headed by Omar Abdullah.
Though, earlier, in the day rumors were rife that expansion cum reshuffle of the State Cabinet would take place on 16th of this month, however, sources told Early Times late evening that the same has been slated for 15th now to the convenience of Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Sources further averred that Congress high command in consultation with PCC chief Saifudin Soz and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has given nod to the induction of MLA Dooru, G A Mir, MLA Banihal, Waqar Rasool Wani and MLA Inderwal, G M Saroori in the NC-Congress Council of Ministers. Sources said that Mir and Rasool will be sworn in as Ministers of State, however, Mir shall be given independent charge of some important portfolio and Saroori will be the lone cabinet Minister from Congress side who will be inducted in the Council of Ministers.
Sources within National Conference said, though the party was in dilemma as to whether it should induct its lone member into the Cabinet. However, reports last came in suggest that the party has finally decided to go for it. This was substantiated by the message which techno savy Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on his micro log twitter on today.
Sources, however, said the party has zeroed in on Mir Saifullah while as the former Minister and MLA Hamdwara Choudhery Ramzan and MLA Kishtwar Sajad Kichloo could not make it to the power galleries.
Meanwhile, the JKPCC chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz and NC Patron Dr Farooq Abdullah are arriving here tomorrow to attend some important functions.
Sources said that Soz has succeeded in convincing Congress High Command for giving nod to the expansion cum reshufle in the State Cabinet ahead of the crucial All India Congress Delegates Session scheduled for January 18th in Jaipur.
"High Command has given a green signal for the Cabinet expansion which could now take place anytime before 18th of this month," a senior Congress leader said on condition of anonymity. Yet another senior Congress leader and sitting Minister told Early Times that expansion was possible even on Monday.
"We will let you know about the decision but can't pin-point the exact dates when it will happen," said the Minister adding that it can even happen on Monday the 14th January. |
