Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is set to expand his cabinet. 4 new faces will be inducted into the cabinet. Consensus has been reached within the party to send Farooq Abdullah and Chowdhary Ramzan to the Rajya Sabha.
Jammu-Kashmir Cabinet: Political activity in Jammu and Kashmir is once again intensifying. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is preparing to expand his cabinet. According to party sources, four new faces from the National Conference are likely to be included in the cabinet in the coming fortnight. A consensus has been reached at the party level regarding this potential reshuffle, in which new representatives will be given responsibility in place of older faces.
Tanveer Sadiq Could Get an Important Responsibility
Chief Spokesperson and a close aide of Chief Minister Omar, Tanveer Sadiq, may be given a place in the cabinet this time. He may get an opportunity to represent Srinagar. Party sources believe that including Tanveer in the government will further strengthen the participation of the capital region.
Farooq Shah from North Kashmir and Bashir Veeri from the South
There is also discussion about the inclusion of former IAS officer and Tangmarg MLA, Pirzada Farooq Shah, in the cabinet. He may be given the charge of the Tourism and R&B (Roads and Buildings) department. Meanwhile, Dr. Bashir Veeri, MLA from Bijbehara in South Kashmir, may be given the responsibility of the Health and Medical Education Department. Bashir Veeri recently gained attention in political circles by defeating Iltija Mufti in the assembly elections.
Mian Mehar Ali to Represent the Gujjar Community
MLA from Kangan, Mian Mehar Ali, who is the son of senior Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmed, may also be given a place in the cabinet. The party hopes that this decision will further strengthen its hold among the Gujjar community. Party strategists believe that this step could be helpful in gaining the support of the specific community in the upcoming elections.
Farooq Abdullah and Ramzan's Names Finalized for Rajya Sabha
Along with the cabinet expansion, the National Conference has also finalized the names to be sent to the Rajya Sabha. Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and senior leader Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan have been nominated as candidates for the Rajya Sabha. In addition, there is talk of supporting a Congress candidate for the third potential seat.
Shammi Oberoi's Name Under Consideration
Party treasurer Shammi Oberoi, considered close to Chief Minister Omar, is also being seen as a Rajya Sabha candidate. According to party sources, his name is being seriously considered. However, a final decision has not yet been made on this.
Differences of Opinion on Some Names
Kaiser Jamsheed Lone, who has been a three-time MLA from Lolab, has also emerged as a potential face in the cabinet. However, the Chief Minister's advisor, Nasir Sogami, is reportedly objecting to his name. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see whether the party includes him despite internal disagreement or not.
Strategy to Keep Congress Out of the Cabinet
The Congress has already clarified that it will not join the cabinet until statehood is restored. In such a situation, the National Conference keeping the Congress out of the cabinet is being seen as a positive signal towards the BJP government at the Center. Currently, Omar Abdullah's cabinet includes six ministers.
Party sources say that Dr. Farooq Abdullah has agreed to the names of the potential ministers. This agreement indicates that the party is in favor of giving opportunities to new faces and strengthening the strategy keeping in mind the upcoming elections.
