SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s indication that he will take up the long-pending cabinet expansion after the GST Council meeting and consultations with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has revived focus on the exercise, with only three ministerial berths available and several party legislators seeking representation.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Wednesday, Omar said the Assembly session had concluded and the cabinet exercise could have been undertaken, but his immediate engagement was the GST Council meeting in Delhi.
“Tomorrow the GST Council meeting is in Delhi. So we will complete it and then we will consult with Dr Farooq Abdullah, party president, and we will do what we have to do,” he said.
Omar did not announce a specific date for the expansion or reshuffle, leaving the timing dependent on the consultations after his return from Delhi.
The issue has remained pending for months, with the Chief Minister earlier giving different indications about when the exercise could be undertaken. In August, he had said the expansion would not take place before August 15, but no changes were made to the council by that deadline.
The Assembly’s autumn session, which concluded on September 30, had subsequently been seen as another possible window for the exercise. The council, however, remained unchanged after the session.
Under Section 53 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 10 per cent of the total strength of the Legislative Assembly. With the Assembly having 90 members, the council can have a maximum of nine members.
The J&K government’s current official list shows six members in the Council of Ministers — Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and ministers Sakina Masood (Itoo), Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma — leaving three positions vacant.
The limited number of berths has made the exercise politically sensitive within the ruling National Conference, which has several legislators with long Assembly experience seeking ministerial representation.
Former minister and NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, for instance, is a five-time MLA, while several other senior legislators also have substantial Assembly experience.
The choice is therefore not only about filling vacancies but also about deciding which legislators can be accommodated without creating dissatisfaction among those left out, particularly if the exercise is combined with changes in portfolios.
Political analysts cited in the supplied material have said the large number of aspirants compared with the available berths makes the exercise a sensitive political decision.
“Once the number of aspirants becomes much larger than the number of available berths, a cabinet expansion becomes a political exercise rather than an administrative one,” one analyst said.
Another analyst said the exercise could test Omar’s authority within the party if senior legislators who are not inducted become dissatisfied.
The possibility of a wider reshuffle has also added another dimension to the exercise. Several ministers are currently handling multiple departments, meaning Omar could use the exercise not only to induct new members but also to redistribute portfolios.
Such a move, however, could make the exercise more sensitive if existing ministers are shifted from important departments or their responsibilities are reduced.
The Congress question had earlier added another element to the discussions. The National Conference approached its alliance partner in August with an offer of a cabinet berth, but the J&K Congress rejected the proposal and said it would not accept ministerial representation until the Centre restored the rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
With Congress remaining outside the ministry, the three available positions can potentially be filled from within the National Conference, although any decision will have to take into account seniority, regional representation, political balance and the management of existing portfolios.
For months, the delay has generated speculation within political circles and among party workers. The issue has also coincided with criticism over ministers handling multiple departments and demands for changes in the distribution of portfolios.
The timing has gained further significance with the NC-led government set to complete two years in office on October 16.
Omar’s latest statement, however, still leaves open whether the eventual exercise will involve only an expansion, a reshuffle of portfolios or both.
The immediate next step is expected to be the Chief Minister’s consultation with Farooq Abdullah after the GST Council meeting, following which the government is likely to take a call on the composition and structure of the Council of Ministers.
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