Omar Abdullah Expands Cabinet, Four New Ministers Sworn In, Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Kaloo inducted; Mubarak Gul voices displeasure over exclusion

Javaid Bhatt, Bureau Head, J&K

Srinagar, Oct 27: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expanded his cabinet with the induction of four National Conference legislators, bringing an end to days of speculation over the reshuffle in the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo took oath as ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted members in the presence of senior political leaders and officials.

The reshuffle has brought fresh faces into the council of ministers, while the exclusion of senior NC leader Mubarak Gul drew attention. Expressing his disappointment, Gul remarked, “Dropped then, dropped today too.”

Shamima Firdous, whose name had not featured prominently in speculation ahead of the reshuffle, welcomed the party’s decision and said she would work with greater commitment.

Mir Saifullah also expressed gratitude to the party leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility. “I am really thankful to the Dr Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference leadership and Almighty Allah for this opportunity,” he said.

The induction of Sagar and Kaloo had been anticipated, as both were among the names doing the rounds ahead of the cabinet expansion. Firdous’s inclusion, however, emerged as one of the key surprises in the final list.

The cabinet reshuffle comes amid efforts by the National Conference leadership to finalise the ministerial lineup, with the latest inductions marking a fresh phase for the Omar Abdullah-led government.