4 MLAs sworn in, Satish dropped
Jammu Tawi, Oct 27: The much-awaited cabinet expansion-cum-reshuffle of the National Conference-led government was carried out on Tuesday with four party MLAs being sworn in as ministers.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to NC legislators Ali Muhammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo) at a function held at Lok Bhavan here.
As per seniority, Sagar was the first to take oath, followed by Saifullah, Shamima and Altaf.
Sagar took oath in Urdu, while Saifullah, Shamima and Altaf took oath in English.
The ceremony was attended by CM Omar Abdullah, Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Masood Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana and Javid Ahmad Dar, MP Shammi Oberoi, Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma and JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) MLA MY Tarigami and PDP MLAs Mir Muhammad Fayaz, Aga Muntazir Mehdi and Rafiq Naik.
With this expansion, the strength of the Omar Abdullah-led council of ministers has risen to nine- the maximum permissible under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which caps the council’s strength at 10 percent of the total membership of the Legislative Assembly.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has not kept any berth vacant for ally Congress. At the time of government formation, one berth was kept vacant for the party. The Chief Minister had approached the Congress high command in August to know whether it wanted to join the ministry, but there was no response.
Of the ministers who took oath on October 16, 2024, only Satish Sharma has been dropped, while Surinder Choudhary, Sakina Itoo, Javid Dar and Javed Rana have been retained.
All five ministers had submitted their resignations to the Chief Minister on Monday. Only the resignation of Satish Sharma was accepted.
Gul’s supporters protest Cabinet snub
Srinagar, Oct 27: Drama and disappointment surrounded the ruling National Conference on Tuesday as party workers protested at its headquarters here in support of senior party leader Mubarak Ahmad Gul following his exclusion from the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet.
The workers gave the party leadership two days to address their demand for Gul’s induction as a minister.
The supporters raised slogans at Nawa-i-Subh Complex, questioning the party high command’s decision to leave out the six-time MLA from the Cabinet despite inducting four other legislators into the Omar Abdullah-led government.
The workers expressed anger over Gul’s exclusion, with many saying they would seek his resignation from the party post if the leadership failed to address their concerns.
“Aga Ruhullah’s decision is right, and we will also seek Mubarak Gul’s resignation,” a party worker said during the protest, reflecting the growing discontent over the Cabinet decision.
The workers said Gul’s political experience and long association with the party deserved recognition.
One supporter said Omar Abdullah was not as old as Gul’s political experience.
Later in the evening, Gul urged the workers to give him some time, saying discussions with the party leadership were underway.
Addressing the workers, he was seen in a video saying that he had spoken individually to National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and received a special assurance from him. The MLA added that he would share the details with the supporters at an appropriate time.
Earlier in the day, following the Cabinet expansion, the National Conference leadership appointed Mubarak Gul as the party’s general secretary, succeeding Ali Mohammad Sagar, who was inducted into the Council of Ministers.
In a special gesture, Dr Abdullah formally seated Gul in the general secretary’s chair at the party headquarters. Photographs shared by the party showed Gul being welcomed and felicitated with garlands by party leaders and workers.
Later, a meeting of party leaders and functionaries was held under Dr Farooq Abdullah’s chairmanship to discuss organisational matters, the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the party’s future course.
Addressing the gathering, the NC chief reiterated the party’s commitment to democracy, people’s rights, the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, full statehood and the protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s distinct cultural identity. He expressed confidence that the newly inducted ministers would work for public welfare and development across sectors.
Gul thanked the leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility of general secretary and said he would work to strengthen the organisation.
However, the appointment failed to quell the anger among some of his supporters, who continued to insist that the veteran leader deserved a place in the Cabinet.
NC MLA Larmi breaks down
Srinagar, Oct 27: Senior National Conference MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi became emotional after being left out of the Cabinet, saying he was disappointed by the decision but remained loyal to the party.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of newly inducted ministers, Larmi said he believed he deserved a place in the Omar Abdullah-led government and was deeply hurt by his exclusion.
“My heart is broken. I was deserving,” Larmi said, adding that while he accepted the decision, it had caused him considerable pain.
The Anantnag West legislator claimed he had remained on the list of probable ministers until Monday evening and had even been informed about a possible portfolio.
Despite his disappointment, Larmi reiterated his commitment to the National Conference. “I am a soldier of the party. I can go anywhere for the party,” he said.
Larmi said the reaction of his supporters had affected him deeply, claiming that several workers broke down after learning he had not been inducted into the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, supporters staged a protest in Anantnag, raising slogans against the party leadership and expressing anger over his exclusion from the Cabinet.
A video circulating on social media showed supporters raising slogans against the party’s decision and calling for a review of the move.
Larmi has been associated with the National Conference for decades. He won the 2014 Assembly election and returned to the Assembly in 2024 from Anantnag West, defeating PDP candidate Abdul Gaffar Sofi by 10,435 votes.
‘Will wipe their tears’: LoP sympathizes with NC MLAs
Jammu Tawi, Oct 27: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Tuesday said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should address the disappointment of legislators who were left out of the Cabinet, adding that he would stand by them in their difficult moment.
Congratulating the newly inducted ministers, Sharma urged them to focus on public issues and work for the welfare of the people rather than get caught up in political disputes.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Sharma said the ministers should concentrate on fulfilling their responsibilities towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to legislators who failed to secure a berth in the Council of Ministers, Sharma said their concerns could not be ignored.
“I will wipe their tears, but it is Omar Sahib’s responsibility to wipe those tears. We will also wipe them,” he said.
Asked about reports of differences within the ruling National Conference and speculation over the government’s stability following the Cabinet expansion, Sharma urged people not to rush to conclusions.
“Have patience, don’t be in a hurry,” he said.
Won’t join Cabinet until J&K regains statehood: Karra
Srinagar, Oct 27: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra on Tuesday said his party would not join the Omar Abdullah-led government, reiterating that its stand on the issue had been clear for the past two years.
“Today was the Cabinet expansion, and those who were chosen took oath,” Karra said while speaking to reporters.
He said the party’s stand was clear that it would not join the Cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have been saying for two years that we won’t join the Cabinet. There is no need to repeatedly explain why Congress is not joining the Cabinet,” he said.
The Congress has chosen to stay out of the Omar Abdullah-led Cabinet over the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra said the party would not accept any ministerial position as long as Jammu and Kashmir remained a Union Territory.
Good Change: Farooq
Srinagar: Ruling National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday described the expansion of the council of ministers in Jammu and Kashmir as a good change.
Four new ministers were sworn in on Tuesday as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expanded his council of ministers.
“A very good cabinet change has taken place. They (ministers) will work and try to ease the difficulties and problems of the people,” Farooq Abdullah told reporters at the party headquarters Nawa-i-Subah here.
All four new faces — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamim Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kallo) — are from the Kashmir valley.