Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expanded his cabinet on Tuesday, with four National Conference (NC) legislators taking oath as ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar.
The newly inducted ministers are Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy during a ceremony attended by senior political leaders and officials.
The cabinet expansion has introduced new faces into the Omar Abdullah-led government. Shamima Firdous’s induction emerged as a surprise, as her name had not featured prominently among the frontrunners ahead of the reshuffle.
Meanwhile, senior National Conference leader Mubarak Gul expressed disappointment over being left out of the cabinet. Speaking to reporters outside Lok Bhawan, Gul said he had attended 30 oath-taking ceremonies and had been excluded from the cabinet on every occasion, including the latest reshuffle.
Shamima Firdous expressed happiness over the opportunity provided by the party and said she would continue working with dedication. Mir Saifullah also thanked the party leadership, led by Dr Farooq Abdullah, and Almighty Allah for the opportunity.
The cabinet expansion comes amid speculation about changes in the existing ministerial lineup. The induction of the four legislators marks a significant development within the ruling National Conference as the government moves forward with its revised ministerial team.
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