Srinagar, Oct 19: National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the long-awaited expansion of the Council of Ministers would take place after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha returns to the Valley, bringing renewed attention to the pending reshuffle in the Omar Abdullah-led government.
Speaking to reporters in Budgam, Abdullah said the LG’s return would pave the way for the exercise.
“The LG was not well and is out of J&K. When the LG comes, there will be an expansion of the cabinet,” he said.
The statement comes three days after CM Omar-led government completed two years in office without undertaking a major Cabinet reshuffle.
The expansion has been under discussion for several months, with the CM previously indicating that he would consult Abdullah before taking a final decision.
CM Omar had earlier said that a decision on the expansion would follow the GST Council meeting and consultations with the NC president.
The latest statement by Abdullah indicates that the exercise is now expected after the LG’s return, although no specific date has been announced.
Under Section 53(1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 10 percent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. With 90 elected members, the council can have a maximum of nine members, including the Chief Minister.
The present council comprises six members: CM Omar, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and Ministers Sakeena Masood Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma.
This leaves room for three additional ministerial appointments.
The anticipated expansion has triggered speculation over the induction of experienced legislators and a possible reshuffle of existing portfolios.
The position of Congress, an electoral ally of the NC, remains another factor in the political calculations surrounding the expansion.
Congress has so far declined to join the government, opting to support it from outside until the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The NC had offered the party a ministerial berth, but Congress has maintained its position on statehood.
Separately, Abdullah said the elected government was functioning on a “double-edged sword”, citing uncertainty over the division of powers between the LG and the elected dispensation.
Referring to the delimitation exercise, he said assurances had been given that elections would follow delimitation and that statehood would subsequently be restored.
“The assurances were given to us, but the BJP is not keeping its promises,” he said.
He also recalled that NC MPs had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in January to discuss the business rules intended to clearly define the respective powers of the LG and the elected government.
“It has been ten months since that meeting, but the business rules have still not been framed,” he said.
Abdullah’s remarks underline the continuing political debate over the functioning of the elected government under the Union Territory framework, even as the administration prepares for a possible restructuring of its Council of Ministers.
About reports that Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi could resign from Parliament on November 3, Abdullah said the decision rested with the MP himself.
“If Ruhullah wants to resign, he is free to do so. It makes no difference,” he said.
He did not elaborate further on the reported resignation or the circumstances surrounding it.
Abdullah also expressed concern over the attack on a Kashmir-bound passenger bus in Haryana, saying CM Omar Abdullah had sought strict action against those responsible and compensation for the damage caused.
He said the incident required immediate attention from the authorities, warning that attempts to disturb peace could have wider consequences if not addressed promptly.
Abdullah said the CM had urged the Central Government to take cognisance of the matter and ensure that such incidents did not recur.
The attack has triggered concern in Jammu and Kashmir, with political leaders calling for accountability and adequate protection for passengers travelling outside the Union Territory.
