Now Reading: Omar Abdullah says J&K cabinet expansion will not happen before August 15
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Omar Abdullah says J&K cabinet expansion will not happen before August 15
Omar Abdullah says J&K cabinet expansion will not happen before August 15
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has again indicated a cabinet expansion after August 15, but delays persist within the ruling National Conference. The NC government, which took oath in October…
The Story in Brief
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has again indicated a cabinet expansion after August 15, but delays persist within the ruling National Conference. The NC government, which took oath in October 2024, has had the same five ministers, including deputy CM Surinder Gupta, for nearly two years. Abdullah can induct up to three more ministers and may reshuffle portfolios. “Don’t expect a cabinet expansion before August 15,” he told reporters in Srinagar earlier this week.
Senior NC leader and Rajya Sabha member Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan has urged an expansion without delay, noting the state previously had 25 ministers but can now have only nine. The Congress, which contested the 2024 polls in alliance with the NC, has refused to join the government, saying it wants statehood restored first, not cabinet berths. Opposition parties accuse the government of failing on promises and overburdening ministers.
The Indian Opinion
The usual narrative pins the expansion delay on Omar Abdullah’s indecision. The harder truth is arithmetic: three seats to fill, many more claimants, and a Congress ally that wants statehood, not a ministry. Meanwhile, the BJP mocks the chief minister for fearing defections if he leaves anyone out. A pointed question: how many of the aspirants pushing for a cabinet post today would accept a performance-based portfolio with measurable targets?
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
