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| Ministerial ambitions drive Cong MLAs to oppose NC alliance exit | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 22: A week after the much-publicized assembly election review meeting of the party, serious differences have reportedly cropped up in Congress over the continuation of the alliance with the National Conference.
While the majority of the leaders and defeated MLAs were of the opinion that there was no reason to remain in the coalition after the National Conference has humiliated the party during the formation of the government, elected MLAs of the party were in favour of continuing in the alliance.
Highly placed sources said that MLAs of the party were hoping that during the expansion of the Cabinet, they would get a chance to be inducted into the government headed by Omar Abdullah.
“Despite being completely sidelined by the ruling National Conference, MLAs of the party are still hopeful of getting ministerial berths during the expansion of the ministry”, a senior leader of the party told The Early Times.
Wishing for anonymity, the leader said that the majority in the Congress was of the opinion that the party National Conference has completely sidelined the party in the functioning of the government, so it was better to officially come out of the alliance with respect and honour.
“During a recent meeting, leaders openly aired their views against continuation in the coalition. They warned instead of facing humiliation at the time of the expansion of the ministry, it is better for the party to officially snap relati Despite being completely sidelined by NC, Cong MLAs are still hopeful of getting ministerial berths.
Four positions of ministers are still vacant in Omar Abdullah’s cabinet.
Leaders who lost the elections were very vocal in demanding the breaking of the alliance.
A few leaders were of the opinion that instead of facing humiliation it is better for the party to snap relations with the NC.
Sources further said that some leaders who lost Assembly elections, what they alleged, due to the fielding of proxy candidates by the National Conference, were very vocal in demanding the breaking alliance.
Four positions of ministers are still vacant in Omar Abdullah’s government due to the restrictions imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. The Act limits the size of the Council of Ministers to 10 percent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly.
According to the Reorganization Act, “The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a Council of Ministers comprising not more than 10 percent of the total number of Assembly members.”
The J&K Legislative Assembly comprises 90 elected members, with an additional provision for the nomination of five members, including two women, two Kashmiri Pandits (one of whom must be a woman), and one refugee from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), bringing the total House strength to 95.
This cap means the Ministry can have a maximum of 9 or 10 members, including the Chief Minister, based on the 10 percent threshold of 9.5.
Furthermore, two MLAs will also be chosen to serve as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.
Political analysts believe this framework will make it challenging for the National Conference to accommodate Congress MLAs, as the party has already secured a majority with the support of Independents. |
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