SRINAGAR: Omar Abdullah is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow, with his cabinet taking oath tomorrow which will offer representation to all regions of the Union Territory.
The representations will be from Jammu region, Pir Panjal, and Chenab Valley. Despite the National Conference (NC) having fewer MLAs from Jammu, efforts are being made to ensure inclusive governance, a party leader said.
Sources within the NC also have revealed that several key legislators are likely to be part of the new cabinet.
These include along with prominent woman leader and MLA DH Pora, Sakeena Itoo. Surinder Choudhary, the “giant killer” from Nowshera who defeated BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir president Ravinder Raina, is also expected to secure a cabinet position, Bureaucrat turned politician Er Farooq Ahmed Shah who defeated heavy weight Ghulam Hassan Mir is likely to be included in the cabinet besides MLA Trehgam from Kupwara district and former law minister Mir Saifullah is also expected to be part of cabinet.
In addition, independent MLA from Chammb, Satish Sharma, who has extended support to the NC, and senior Gujjar leader Javed Rana, elected from Mendhar in Poonch district, are also likely candidates for cabinet posts.
Independent MLA Pyare Lal Sharma, who represents Inderwal constituency in Doda, is expected to be included as well, along with some young faces from the NC.
These selections are seen as part of an effort to ensure fair representation for the Pir Panjal region, Jammu, and Chenab Valley.
According to a senior NC leader, the inclusion of leaders like Javed Rana, Surinder Choudhary, Satish Sharma, and Pyare Lal Sharma will help ensure that the government is representative of all regions and communities.
Meanwhile, the Congress, the NC’s key alliance partner, is expected to secure one or two ministerial berths.
However, the party’s reduced number of legislators, coupled with the support of five independent MLAs bolstering Omar Abdullah’s position, has limited its bargaining power for additional cabinet positions.
Omar Abdullah has already stated that his government will represent “all regions and groups,” emphasizing that his administration will prioritize inclusive governance.