SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to undertake the first major Cabinet reshuffle of his government next week, with five senior National Conference (NC) leaders expected to be inducted as Ministers and two incumbent Ministers likely to be dropped, according to political sources
The proposed expansion is expected to take place in Srinagar as the Omar Abdullah-led government approaches the completion of its second year in office on October 16.
Sources indicate that the Cabinet expansion will focus on experienced legislators, with the party leadership reportedly deciding against inducting first-time MLAs. The proposed changes are expected to bring the Council of Ministers to its maximum permissible strength of nine members, including the Chief Minister.
Under the applicable constitutional framework, the strength of the Council of Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir cannot exceed 10 per cent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. With 90 elected members, the maximum permissible strength is nine Ministers, including the Chief Minister
Five senior National Conference leaders whose names are reportedly under consideration for ministerial positions are Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and Aijaz Jan.Rather, who represents the Chrar-i-Sharief Assembly constituency, and Sagar, the MLA from Khanyar, are seven-time legislators. Gurezi, who represents the Gurez constituency, is a fourth-time MLA, while Kaloo from Pahalgam and Aijaz Jan from Poonch are second-time legislators.
