Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will expand his council of ministers in the first three days of the upcoming week. The decision follows discussions with National Conference leadership and a formal meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Abdullah has confirmed the cabinet list is finalized and requested party members to cease lobbying efforts for government positions.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced on Saturday that his government will undergo a cabinet expansion and reshuffle within the first three days of the coming week. The announcement follows a meeting held at Lok Bhawan with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, where the Chief Minister sought time to finalize the administrative adjustments for the new council of ministers.
The composition of the incoming cabinet has already been decided after detailed discussions with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. By finalizing the list ahead of the expansion, the Chief Minister has effectively closed the door for any further internal negotiations regarding appointments.
In a move to streamline the transition, Chief Minister Abdullah has requested that party colleagues and legislators stop lobbying for ministerial berths. He noted that his communication channels have been filled with appeals and biodatas from party members. He clarified that the leadership is already well-acquainted with the track records of the prospective candidates, making further submissions unnecessary.
The administration is now waiting for the Lieutenant Governor to designate the official time for the expansion ceremony. This upcoming transition marks a period of administrative adjustment for the Union Territory as the government prepares to implement its agenda with the new ministerial team. The next major update will be the official swearing-in ceremony and the final list of ministers.