Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir UT government may witness its first cabinet reshuffle and expansion after August 15.
This was hinted by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday while talking to the reporters on the sidelines of a function.
Speaking to reporters, the CM said the reshuffle was “a work in progress” but clarified that it would not happen before Independence Day.
“It is a work in progress, but not before August 15. It would be an injustice to those ministers whose names have been included in the list (for Independence Day) speeches. They are drafting their speeches. Let them finish their speeches, we will talk about it after that,” he said, adding that the reshuffle will take place.
Taking a swipe at journalists over queries on the reshuffle, Omar asked why they were so concerned. “You don’t ask this question to the Prime Minister in Delhi. There has been talk of a reshuffle there for months, but nobody asks this question. I don’t know why you are so concerned about this here only,” he remarked.
As per law, the strength of the council of ministers, currently six, cannot exceed nine. According to sources, two to three new faces from the Kashmir Valley are likely to be inducted in the council of ministers.
“There could also be a rejig in portfolios, and one minister from Jammu may lose a key portfolio,” sources added KNO.
