J-K Cabinet expansion, reshuffle to take place next week: CM

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the expansion and reshuffle of his council of ministers will take place in the first two to three days of next week. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said he had sought time from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for the exercise. The chief minister met Sinha at the Lok Bhawan here on Saturday morning. "Yes, it (reshuffle) certainly was (discussed). I requested time from him for the expansion and asked him that in the first two to three days of next week, I will carry out the expansion and certain changes in my Council of Ministers," the chief minister said. He said the Lt Governor would fix a time for the exercise, following which the expansion would take place.

VIDEO | Srinagar: On meeting with Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Kumar Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah ) says, "The Lieutenant Governor has returned to Srinagar after an absence of a few days. He had been unwell during this period, so I wanted to check on his health; furthermore, there were several issues that required discussion and his input. It had been quite a while since we last met, so I requested an appointment today, which he granted, and I have just concluded my meeting with him. ...I requested time from him for an expansion and urged him to set a date within the first few days of next week, so that I may proceed with the necessary changes and the expansion of my Council of Ministers. The Lieutenant Governor will now fix a time, and the process of expansion will then take place." (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)

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Abdullah, however, appealed to his party colleagues and MLAs not to approach him or National Conference president Farooq Abdullah seeking ministerial berths, saying the list has already been finalised. "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. Abdullah said whatever is destined to happen is first determined by the Almighty as he urged his colleagues to refrain from sending messages, making phone calls or approaching party leaders.