Srinagar, October 27, KDC: The expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet on Tuesday exposed discontent within the ruling National Conference, with 11 MLAs absent from the oath-taking ceremony, Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi staying away, Anantnag West legislator Abdul Majeed Larmi expressing anguish over his exclusion, and supporters of veteran leader Mubarak Gul protesting against the party leadership’s decision.
The expansion also raised questions over regional representation, particularly in the Chenab valley.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to four National Conference legislators — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani alias Altaf Kaloo — at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar.
The expansion also saw Independent MLA Satish Sharma dropped from the Council of Ministers, bringing the strength of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet to nine members, including the Chief Minister.
The 11 MLAs absent from the ceremony were Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri (Bijbehara), Nazir Ahmad Gurezi (Gurez), Mian Meher Ali (Kangan), Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (Thannamandi), Javed Iqbal Choudhary (Budhal), Engineer Khurshid Ahmad (Gulabgarh), Aijaz Ahmad Jan (Poonch), Arjun Singh Raju (Ramban), Piaray Lal (Inderwal) and Dr Rameshwar Singh (Bani).
Their absence came amid questions over the distribution of ministerial berths and the exclusion of several legislators who had expected to be accommodated in the new Cabinet.
Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi stayed away from the oath-taking ceremony amid discontent over his exclusion from the Cabinet.
The newly inducted ministers Mir Saifullah and Altaf Kaloo, accompanied by other legislators, visited Gurezi at his residence in Tulsi Bagh, Srinagar, in an effort to address his concerns.
Sources said the visiting leaders attempted to persuade Gurezi to accept the party leadership’s decision. However, there was no immediate official statement from Gurezi or the National Conference leadership on the discussions.
Gurezi had been considered a potential contender for a ministerial berth, and his absence from the ceremony brought the disappointment among senior party legislators into focus.
The Cabinet expansion has also brought the question of Chinab valley representation into focus, as none of the four newly inducted ministers represents Rajouri or Poonch districts.
The absence of Javed Iqbal Choudhary from Budhal, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan from Thannamandi and Aijaz Ahmad Jan from Poonch added to the discussion over regional representation and the distribution of ministerial berths.
The exclusion of legislators from the region has raised questions about how the party leadership balanced regional considerations while finalising the Cabinet.
Anantnag West MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi, who attended the ceremony, expressed disappointment over being left out of the Cabinet.
Speaking about his exclusion, Larmi cited his seniority, honesty and loyalty to the party, saying he had expected to be considered for a ministerial position.
“My heart hurts because I was a senior. Secondly, I was honest. Thirdly, I was loyal. Fourthly, I was dedicated,” he said.
Larmi, however, said he accepted the leadership’s decision and would continue working for the National Conference.
Supporters of veteran National Conference leader Mubarak Gul protested against his exclusion from the Cabinet at the party headquarters in Nawa-i-Subh, Srinagar.
Gul, the six-time MLA from Eidgah and a former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, expressed disappointment over being overlooked once again despite his long association with the party.
He told reporters that he had attended numerous oath-taking ceremonies over the years but had repeatedly been left out of the ministerial team.
His supporters questioned the leadership’s decision, contrasting Gul’s exclusion with the induction of Ali Mohammad Sagar, who has held ministerial positions in previous National Conference governments.
Following the controversy, party president Farooq Abdullah appointed Gul as the party’s general secretary. However, reports later indicated that Gul had not accepted the appointment, and his future course of action remained uncertain.
Gul’s supporters argued that his seniority and decades of service to the party warranted a place in the Cabinet.
The Council of Ministers has reached to nine members, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The Congress, an alliance partner of the National Conference, remained outside the government over its demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Cabinet expansion has ended months of speculation over ministerial appointments but has also brought internal differences within the National Conference into sharper focus. (KDC)
