J&K LG Manoj Sinha Swears In Four New Ministers in Omar Abdullah Government

The newly inducted ministers are senior National Conference (NC) leader Ali Muhammad Sagar, Shameema Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Wani, popularly known as Altaf Kaloo. All four are sitting MLAs from the ruling party.

Sagar, who represents the Khanyar Assembly constituency in Srinagar, has won the seat seven times, making him one of the party’s most experienced legislators.

Shameema Firdous, the MLA from Habba Kadal in Srinagar, has won the constituency twice. Mir Saifullah represents Trehgam in Kupwara district, while Altaf Kaloo is the MLA from Pahalgam in Anantnag district.

Cabinet Strength Rises to Nine

With the induction of the four ministers, the strength of the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet, including the Chief Minister, has increased to nine.

The ministers retained in the cabinet include Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary, Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana and Javaid Ahmad Dar.

Under 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 90 elected members in the Assembly, the cabinet’s maximum permissible strength is nine, including the Chief Minister.

The latest expansion brings the cabinet to that ceiling.

Focus on Governance and Public Grievances

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in consultation with NC president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, has inducted several senior party leaders as part of the cabinet expansion.

According to party sources, the reshuffle is intended to strengthen governance, improve public access to the administration and ensure that citizens’ grievances are addressed more promptly.

The induction of experienced legislators such as Sagar, Mir Saifullah and Shameema Firdous is also expected to reinforce the party’s representation within the government.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Lok Bhawan auditorium in the Chashma Shahi area of Srinagar.

Those present included Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, NC president Farooq Abdullah, cabinet ministers, Nasir Aslam Wani, adviser to the Chief Minister, senior NC leader and MLA Mubarak Gul, senior civil and police officials, and several prominent citizens.