Omar Abdullah Expands Jammu & Kashmir Cabinet
Omar Abdullah Expands Jammu & Kashmir Cabinet, Four Ministers Take Oath in Srinagar
Srinagar, October 27: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expanded his Council of Ministers, inducting four National Conference legislators in a significant reshuffle aimed at strengthening the administration and reshaping the government’s ministerial team.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and senior political leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony. The expansion marks the first major cabinet reshuffle since the National Conference-led government assumed office in October 2024.
The four legislators inducted into the Council of Ministers are Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shameema Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kalloo, also known as Altaf Ahmad Wani. All four belong to the National Conference and represent constituencies in the Kashmir Valley.
Ali Mohammad Sagar is a senior party leader with extensive legislative experience. A seven-time MLA, he has previously served as a minister and remains an influential figure within the organisation. Mir Saifullah, who represents Trehgam in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, also brings previous ministerial experience.
Shameema Firdous, the MLA from Habba Kadal in Srinagar, has been inducted into the Council of Ministers for the first time. Her appointment increases women’s representation in the government. Altaf Kalloo, who represents Pahalgam in south Kashmir, has also received his first ministerial appointment.
The reshuffle also involves changes to the existing ministerial team, with Independent MLA Satish Sharma dropped from the Cabinet, according to media reports. The revised composition reflects the government’s effort to accommodate senior party leaders while reorganising responsibilities within the administration.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, the Council of Ministers cannot exceed 10 per cent of the Legislative Assembly’s total strength. With 90 elected members, the maximum permitted strength is nine ministers, including the Chief Minister.
The expansion comes amid political discussions over governance, regional representation and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The Congress, despite its electoral understanding with the National Conference, has reiterated that it will remain outside the Council of Ministers until full statehood is restored.
The induction of experienced legislators is expected to influence the government’s administrative priorities in the coming months. Attention will now turn to the allocation of portfolios and the new ministers’ responsibilities in addressing public concerns, improving service delivery and advancing development across Jammu and Kashmir.
The cabinet reshuffle represents an important political development for the Union Territory as the Omar Abdullah-led government enters its next phase of administration.
