Atiya Mujeeb
Srinagar, October 26: National Conference Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq on Monday said the decision on the upcoming cabinet reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir rests with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the party leadership, adding that the names of the new ministers are likely to become clear by the evening.
Sadiq told reporters that the Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah would decide on the new faces to be inducted into the Council of Ministers. He said the final picture was expected to emerge later in the day.
The cabinet expansion is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at 10:30 am at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar, where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers.
The reshuffle will be the first major change in the Council of Ministers since the Omar Abdullah-led government took office in October 2024. The exercise is expected to bring new faces into the cabinet and may also involve changes in the allocation of portfolios.
At present, the Council of Ministers has six members, including the Chief Minister, leaving room for further inductions. Under the applicable provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Council can have a maximum of nine members, including the Chief Minister.
Several National Conference legislators are being discussed as possible candidates for ministerial positions. However, the final list of incoming ministers and any changes involving existing ministers will become clear only after an official announcement.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier said that the list had been finalised after consultations with Dr Farooq Abdullah. He had also urged party colleagues to remain patient and avoid lobbying for ministerial positions.
The cabinet expansion is being closely watched, with attention focused on regional representation, the induction of new members and the possible redistribution of portfolios.
