J&K cabinet expansion unlikely before Assembly session

SRINAGAR — The National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to undertake an expansion-cum-reshuffle of the council of ministers for the time being, sources said.

Sources told news agency KNO that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would not immediately expand his cabinet.

“There are no chances of cabinet expansion this month. The exercise will not be taken up given that the autumn session of the J&K Assembly is now just 10 days away,” they said.

The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 21 and conclude on September 30.

According to the sources, the cabinet expansion could instead take place around the second anniversary of the NC-led government, which will complete two years in office on October 16.

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An expansion-cum-reshuffle had been widely expected after August 15.

Omar Abdullah is also understood to have approached the Congress high command to ascertain whether the party would take up a ministerial position in the government.

The Congress high command subsequently discussed the offer from the NC-led government with its leaders based in Jammu and Kashmir, according to the sources.

The council of ministers currently has six members. It can have up to three more ministers, as the J&K Reorganisation Act limits the strength of the council of ministers to one-tenth of the total strength of MLAs.