Stop lobbying for ministerial berths, Omar tells party colleagues ahead of reshuffle

As the countdown begins for the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet reshuffle, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made it clear that lobbying will not change the outcome, telling party colleagues and MLAs that the list of ministers has already been finalised and the exercise is expected early next week.

Omar made the announcement after meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar on Saturday to seek time for the expansion and reshuffle. Stressing that the names had been decided after consultations with Farooq Abdullah, he asked aspirants to stop sending messages and making calls in pursuit of ministerial positions.

Omar said the expansion and reshuffle would take place in the first two to three days of next week after he met the Lieutenant Governor and sought time for the exercise. He said the names had been finalised in consultation with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, leaving no scope for further lobbying.

Omar told reporters “I discussed the cabinet reshuffle with the Lieutenant Governor and requested him to fix a time within the first two or three days of next week. I intend to make some changes and expand my Council of Ministers”, he said.

Omar asked “After consultations with Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sahib, the list has been finalised. There is no need to knock on Farooq Sahib’s door, my door, or anyone else’s door. The decision of who will become a minister is not pending; it has already been made. So, I request my colleagues to please be patient”, he said.

“Please stop sending WhatsApp messages. I am receiving endless, lengthy messages, entire books are being written, sending full biodatas as if I don’t know who they are! I already know them and their work”, he said.

Omar said he also enquired about Sinha’s health, as the lieutenant governor had not been keeping well over the past few weeks. “The LG Sahib has returned to Srinagar after quite a few days. In between, his health wasn’t very well, so I wanted to inquire about his well-being”.

Asked about the President of India’s delegation of powers under the National Dental Commission Act, 2023, to lieutenant governors and administrators of all Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, to establish State Dental Councils and regulate local dental healthcare, Omar said the matter needed to be examined first.

He said it had to be verified whether the Dental Council fell under the jurisdiction of the Centre or the Union Territory under the business rules.

On Kashmiri pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia, the chief minister said the situation was a serious concern, with people from several states affected by flight cancellations.

“It is not that flights are not operating at all, but the problem now is that airfares have skyrocketed. People who booked on budget airlines and are stuck there are finding it difficult to purchase new tickets at these inflated rates”, he said.

The chief minister declined to comment on reports of Chinese patrolling deviations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, saying he had “nothing to do with it” as Jammu and Kashmir no longer shares a direct border with China following Ladakh’s separation.