Srinagar: Ahead of the proposed expansion of the council of ministers, the ruling National Conference (NC) is learnt to have made a fresh offer to the Congress to join the Omar Abdullah-led ministerial team.
Quoting sources, news agency KNO reported that NC has conveyed to the Congress that they can join the council of ministers and has already discussed the matter with All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge for Jammu & Kashmir and Rajya Sabha MP, Syed Naseer Hussain.
He is understood to have told NC that he would respond after consulting the party high command.
Sources further revealed that Hussain also discussed the matter with the J&K Congress leadership during his recent visit to the Union Territory. It has been learnt that the Congress is still indecisive on the matter.
At the time of formation of the NC-led government in October 2024, the party had reached out to the Congress with an offer of one ministerial berth, but the latter had demanded two.
Later on, the Congress publicly stated that it would not join the government until the restoration of J&K’s statehood.
The fresh offer comes at a time when Omar Abdullah is reportedly planning a reshuffle and expansion in the council of ministers headed by him.
As per the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, the council of ministers in the Union Territory can have a maximum of nine members, since its strength shall not exceed 10 percent of the total strength of the Assembly. (With inputs from KNO)
