Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – A recent expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet has triggered significant internal discontent and protests within the ruling National Conference (NC) party. The induction of four new ministers, all hailing from the Kashmir Valley, has led to expressions of disappointment from several senior NC legislators who were overlooked for ministerial berths.
Cabinet Expansion and New Inductions
The expansion, the first since the National Conference returned to power following the 2024 Assembly elections, saw Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administer the oath of office and secrecy to four legislators: Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamim Firdous, and Altaf Ahmad Wani. The ceremony took place at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar. With these inductions, the Council of Ministers, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has reached its maximum permissible strength of nine members, as per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This Act stipulates that the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 10% of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly, which has 90 members.
Discontent Among Overlooked Legislators
The move has not been met with universal approval within the party. Senior NC leaders and MLAs, including Mubarak Gul, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, and Abdul Majeed Larmi, have openly voiced their disappointment at being excluded from the new Cabinet. Supporters of Mubarak Gul, a six-time MLA from Eidgah, staged a protest at the party headquarters in Srinagar, demanding his inclusion. Gul himself expressed his dismay, stating he felt overlooked despite his long association with the party. Similarly, Abdul Majeed Larmi from Anantnag West articulated his hurt, believing he was deserving of a ministerial post. Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi was notably absent from the swearing-in ceremony, adding to the visible signs of internal friction.
Opposition Criticism and Regional Representation Concerns
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been critical of the cabinet expansion, with party spokesperson Altaf Thakur accusing the NC of favouring family loyalists and neglecting regional representation. Thakur described the new arrangement as a “kitchen cabinet” and alleged that loyalty to the Abdullah family, rather than long-standing party service or political contribution, was the basis for ministerial appointments. He further pointed out that key districts from the Kashmir Valley, such as Pulwama, Budgam, and Bandipora, were left unrepresented despite the NC receiving a strong mandate from these areas. The BJP also highlighted that the cabinet now consists of seven members from Kashmir, with only two representatives from the Jammu region, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary and Javed Rana. This has led to accusations of an imbalance in regional representation, particularly after the exclusion of Independent MLA Satish Sharma, who was the sole representative from mainland Jammu.
Congress Stance
The Congress party, an ally of the National Conference, has stated its decision to stay out of the expanded Cabinet. The party has cited the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir as a prerequisite for its participation in the government. This condition was communicated to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, leading to the NC proceeding with the expansion without Congress involvement.
Portfolio Allocation
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha allocated government business among the ministers. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has been assigned Public Works, Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development. Ali Mohammad Sagar will head the Revenue, Power Development, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, and Election departments. Sakina Masood (Itoo) will oversee Health and Medical Education, and Social Welfare. Javed Ahmad Rana has been entrusted with Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Transport. Javid Ahmed Dar will manage Agriculture Production, Finance, Mining, and Cooperatives. Mir Saifullah has been assigned Planning, Development and Monitoring, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Trainings. Shamim Firdous will handle School Education, Higher Education, and Jal Shakti. Altaf Ahmad Wani has been allocated the Forest, Ecology and Environment departments.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
