Oath-Taking Scheduled for Tuesday at Lok Bhavan; Congress Stays Out Over Statehood Demand
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 26 (KNB): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has finalised a major expansion and reshuffle of his Council of Ministers, with four legislators set to be inducted and one incumbent minister to be dropped, highly placed sources told Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) on Monday.
Sources confirmed to KNB that Ali Mohammad Sagar, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, Shameema Firdous and Mir Saifullah have been finalised for induction into the ministry, while incumbent minister Satish Sharma is set to be dropped as part of the cabinet reshuffle.
The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to be held at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar on Tuesday at 10:30 am, sources said.
The reshuffle follows months of discussions within the ruling National Conference over ministerial representation, seniority and the accommodation of party legislators. The changes will mark a major restructuring of the Council of Ministers since the National Conference-led government took office in October 2024.
On Monday evening, Omar Abdullah also contacted Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra to seek the Congress party’s final decision on joining the government.
However, Karra reiterated that the Congress would not accept a ministerial berth until statehood was restored to Jammu and Kashmir. He reportedly conveyed that the Chief Minister could proceed with filling the position otherwise reserved for the party.
The Congress decision clears the immediate uncertainty over its participation in the cabinet expansion, allowing the Chief Minister to proceed with the planned ministerial changes.
The government was formed in October 2024 with a limited number of ministers, leaving scope for a subsequent expansion. The latest reshuffle is expected to change the composition of the ministry and determine the distribution of ministerial responsibilities in the coming period.
With four new ministers set to be inducted and Satish Sharma expected to exit, the reshuffle will mark a significant change in the Council of Ministers as the Omar Abdullah-led government moves into its next phase.
The oath-taking ceremony scheduled for Tuesday is expected to formally bring the changes into effect.
Kashmir News Bureau (KNB)