Jammu: The National Conference-led Jammu and Kashmir government is unlikely to undertake any expansion or reshuffle of the council of ministers before the upcoming Assembly session, with the exercise now likely to be deferred until after the House proceedings, sources said.
According to reports, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is not expected to make any changes to his council this month as the autumn session of the J&K Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 21.
“There are no chances of cabinet expansion this month. The exercise will not be taken up given that the autumn session of the J&K Assembly is now just 10 days away,” the reports said.
The session is scheduled from September 21 to September 30, putting the immediate focus of the government on legislative and other business before the House.
The possibility of an expansion is, however, understood to remain open after the session. Sources indicated that the exercise could coincide with the second anniversary of the NC-led government, which completes two years in office on October 16.
Speculation over a reshuffle-cum-expansion had intensified after August 15, with the exercise widely expected to be taken up around that time.
The government currently has six members in its council of ministers, including the Chief Minister, leaving room for additional appointments.
The issue of Congress joining the government has also been part of the discussions surrounding the proposed expansion. Omar Abdullah is understood to have approached the Congress high command to ascertain whether the party would accept a ministerial berth.
Congress subsequently discussed the offer with its Jammu and Kashmir leadership. The party has maintained that it will continue supporting the government from outside and has linked cabinet participation to restoration of what it describes as constitutional rights relating to land, jobs and statehood.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the council of ministers cannot exceed one-tenth of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. With the Assembly having 90 elected members, the council can have a maximum of nine members, leaving three positions currently available.
