All Nine Cabinet Members Belong to National Conference; Chenab Valley Gets No Representation in Expanded Council of Ministers
Srinagar, October 27: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expanded and reshuffled his Council of Ministers, inducting four National Conference leaders and dropping Independent MLA Satish Sharma. The reshuffle has left the nine-member Council of Ministers entirely represented by the National Conference, with no direct representation for the Congress or Independent legislators.
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The expanded Council of Ministers comprises Omar Abdullah, Surinder Choudhary, Javid Dar, Javed Rana, Sakeena Itoo, Shahima Firdous, Altaf Kaloo, Mir Saifullah and Ali Mohammad Sagar.
With Satish Sharma’s exit, the Cabinet has lost its Independent MLA representation. The Congress, despite being an alliance partner, has continued to stay out of the government amid its demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Chenab Valley Again Misses Out on Cabinet Representation
The reshuffle has once again brought the issue of regional representation into focus, particularly the continued absence of Chenab Valley from the Council of Ministers.
Comprising Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts, Chenab Valley has failed to secure a ministerial berth in the expanded Cabinet. The absence of direct representation has raised questions about regional balance and the inclusion of the region’s concerns in the government’s decision-making process.
While the reshuffle has brought leaders associated with the Kashmir Valley and the Pir Panjal region into the Cabinet, Chenab Valley remains without a minister representing its interests directly.
The development is likely to trigger political debate across Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban, where residents have long sought greater attention to pressing issues, including infrastructure development, healthcare fac
