SRINAGAR: The suspense over the National Conference’s (NC) cabinet reshuffle ended on Tuesday as four party legislators—Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo—were inducted into the Omar Abdullah-led government.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar in the presence of senior party leaders and government officials.
The induction marks a significant reshuffle in the Council of Ministers, with the NC bringing in four new members to fill vacant ministerial positions and strengthen its team.
However, the reshuffle also left some party leaders disappointed. Senior NC leader Mubarak Gul expressed his displeasure over being left out of the cabinet.
“I have attended 30 oath-taking ceremonies till now. Every time I was dropped, and today as well, I am being dropped,” Gul told reporters outside Lok Bhavan.
Newly inducted minister Shamima Firdous expressed happiness over the opportunity given to her by the party leadership and said she would continue to work harder.
Mir Saifullah, ahead of his induction, thanked the National Conference leadership and Almighty Allah for the opportunity.
“I am really thankful to the Dr Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference leadership and Almighty Allah for this opportunity,” he said.
Shamima Firdous emerged as a notable inclusion in the reshuffle, having not featured prominently among the frontrunners ahead of the announcement.
Her induction added an unexpected dimension to the cabinet expansion, as the party finalised its choices for the four available positions in the Omar Abdullah-led government.
The latest reshuffle is expected to bring changes to the government’s ministerial composition, with the portfolios of the newly inducted ministers and any reassignment of existing departments likely to become clear following the ceremony.
