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| NC ministers, political advisors, all resign; Omar to unveil new cabinet today | | Speculations rife of old guards being replaced | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Jan 14: National Conference (NC) ministers, political advisors alongwith heads of various corporations today formally submitted resignations to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah paving way for inductions of fresh faces and possibly, retention of some from outgoing cabinet.
Omar had hosted a dinner for the sitting ministers and other national conference leaders holding prominent positions in the state government at his residence this evening. Ministers rushed to CM's official residence in the winter capital with resignations folded in there pockets. They handed over the same to Omar Abdullah with the later preferring not to give even a hint about who was being dropped and who was likely to continue.
Sources said CM delivered an exceptional speech applauding performance of out going ministers alongside promising not to disappoint any one of them after the reshuffle. He did not elaborate on reasons for seeking resignations of the entire ruling coterie of NC .but said that what was being done is in the interest of the party as well as for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said that CM is likely to forward resignations of the ministers who are likely to be dropped hours before swearing in ceremony tomorrow.
They added that the ministers who are likely to face an axe included high profile Higher Education minister Abdul Gani Malik, Social welfare Minister Sakeena Ittoo, MOS Roads and Buildings Javed Dar and Political Advisor to CM Mubarak Gul. Sources further said that some of the heads of corporations are also likely to be shown the door.
Sources hinted that possible induction of MLA Kishtwar Sajad Kitchloo, MLA Kupwara Mir Saifullah, MLA Handwara Chowdary Ramzan, MLC Ajay Sadhotra and MLC Vijay Bakaya. Of the ministers who submitted resignations to CM, Forest Minister Mian Altaf and MopS Home Nasir Aslam Wani are likely to retain there places. Given the performance, sources said that Wani might see a promotion to cabinet rank while as nothing is known about the fate of industries of Surjeet Singh Salathia.
Sources said that whosoever retains or is inducted in the council of ministers would be consensual candidate of NC patron Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and powerful General Secretary Sheikh Nazir, said the sources. What is keeping the political observers engaged is the fate of Omar's close aide Devinder Singh Rana. Though it is believed that he would continue as political adviser.
The NC Ministers, who submitted resignations in dinner meeting, included Abdul Rahim Rather (Finance), Ali Mohammad Sagar (Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Rural Development), Mian Altaf (Forest), Surjeet Singh Salathia (Industries and Commerce), Qamar Ali Akhoon (CAPD and Transport), Sakina Itoo (Social Welfare), Abdul Gani Malik (Higher Education) and Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Science and Technology, all in Cabinet rank, Nasir Aslam Wani, MoS for Home, Housing and Urban Development, PHE, Tourism and Revenue and Javed Ahmad Dar, MoS for R&B, Mechanical Engineering, Health and Medical Education, Floriculture, Horticulture and Agriculture.
Sources said that in addition to 10 Ministers of the National Conference, Devinder Rana, Political Advisor and Mubarak Gul, Advisor to Chief Minister also submitted their resignations to Chief Minister. Further, Shamima Firdous, NC MLA and chairperson of State Women Commission, Rashpal Singh, MLA and vice-chairman Kissan Welfare Advisory Board and Mushtaq Bukhari, former Minister and vice-chairman Pahari Welfare Advisory Board also resigned. All three chairpersons of the Boards have been granted the status of Minister of State.
As per the Constitutional provisions in Jammu and Kashmir, the State can have a maximum of 25 Ministers (20 per cent of total strength of both Houses of the Legislature). There were a total of 17 Cabinet Ministers in the State including the Chief Minister with nine belonging to National Conference and seven to Congress. DPN MLA Ghulam Hassan Mir is also a Cabinet Minister.
In addition, there were five Ministers of State-three from the Congress and two from the National Conference. Of three Ministers of State from Congress, two (Aijaz Khan and Dr Manohar Lal Sharma) held the Independent charge of some Departments. Omar Abdullah was presently holding the charge of Home, General Administration, Planning and Development, Power, Works, Education, Information, Civil Aviation, Hospitality and Protocol, Estates etc.
As against the Constitutional provision of 25 Ministers, there were only 22 Ministers in the State including the Chief Minister. Of three vacancies, two belonged to Congress and one to National Conference, as per the arrangement between two coalition partners.
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