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

**Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Kaloo inducted; Congress stays out of Cabinet, continues outside support**

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

BY SHAFQAT WANI 

SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 27:- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday administered the oath of office to four National Conference leaders as ministers in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government, marking a major expansion of the Council of Ministers.

Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Kaloo were inducted into the Cabinet at a ceremony attended by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other political leaders.

The expansion follows weeks of speculation over changes in the ministry and comes nearly a year after the National Conference-led government took office in the Union Territory. The induction is expected to strengthen the government’s administrative functioning, with the allocation of portfolios to the new ministers likely to be announced separately.

Sagar, a senior National Conference leader with considerable legislative experience, joins Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Kaloo in the expanded Council of Ministers. Their induction comes at a time when the government faces public expectations over development, governance and the delivery of essential services across Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Congress has opted not to join the expanded ministry, maintaining its position that the party will stay out of the government until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is restored. However, it will continue to extend outside support to the Omar Abdullah-led dispensation.

The Cabinet expansion comes against the backdrop of the continuing demand for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which was reorganised as a Union Territory in August 2019.

The coming days are expected to bring greater clarity on portfolio allocation and the responsibilities assigned to the newly inducted ministers, as the government seeks to address administrative priorities and fulfil its commitments to the people.

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