Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday indicated that the much-awaited reshuffle of his Council of Ministers could be taken up soon after the upcoming GST Council meeting and subsequent consultations with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said he had planned to undertake the cabinet exercise during the current period, but the recently concluded Autumn Session of the J&K Legislative Assembly pushed the process back.
“I had said that the session has just been completed. I would have done it in these days,” the Chief Minister said.
Omar, however, said his scheduled engagement with the GST Council in New Delhi would take priority. He added that the cabinet-related discussions would be held with Farooq Abdullah after his Delhi visit.
“But tomorrow there is a GST Council meeting in Delhi. We will complete it and then we will consult with Mr. Farooq,” Omar said.
The remarks have renewed attention on the proposed cabinet reshuffle, which has been under discussion for several weeks. While there has been speculation about changes in ministerial responsibilities and the possibility of new faces joining the Council of Ministers, no official decision has been announced so far.
Six Members Currently Listed in J&K Council
According to the Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department, the Council of Ministers currently comprises six members, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary.
The other ministers listed are Sakeena Masood Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma.
Any reshuffle could potentially involve changes in portfolios or other adjustments, but the Chief Minister has not disclosed details regarding which ministers could be reassigned, inducted or dropped.
GST Council Meeting Rescheduled
Omar Abdullah is also a member of the GST Council in his capacity as the Chief Minister and Finance Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
The 57th GST Council meeting, which was originally scheduled for October 7, has been rescheduled to October 8 in New Delhi.
The Chief Minister’s latest statement suggests that the cabinet reshuffle process could move forward after the GST Council engagement and his consultation with Farooq Abdullah. However, the final composition of the Council of Ministers and any changes in portfolios will depend on decisions taken after these consultations.
For now, the government has not officially announced the timeline, names or portfolios linked to the proposed reshuffle.
