New Delhi, Sep 24: A reshuffle in Jammu and Kashmir cabinet is expected soon with Congress mulling pulling out some of its ministers from Omar Abdullah-led cabinet and appointing new faces.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi Monday held deliberations with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and AICC-incharge for the state Mohan Prakash in this regard. Azad is a former JK Chief Minister.
“There are two vacancies from the Congress side in the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet. We have to fill that,” an AICC source said.
Of this, one is vacant after resignation of Public Works Department Minister from Congress G M Saroori, who had to quit a few months back after his daughter was accused of impersonation in an exam.
The other slot was that of Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed who was stripped off the portfolio of Education Department amid allegation that his kin had been favored by the state education department.
A second meeting to this effect will take place between the Congress President and Saif-ud-din Soz, who is at present in Kashmir for the forthcoming Presidential visit beginning September 26.
Sources said that regional balance of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will be taken into account during the reshuffle of the Congress ministers.
Congress is part of a coalition government with National Conference in the state. While Omar is the Chief Minister from NC, both the parties have 11 ministers each in the cabinet. NC has 28 MLAs in the 87-member assembly while Congress has 17.

GKNN ADDS FROM SRINAGAR
According to sources, Ghulam Nabi Azad-led faction in the state Congress is strongly pitching for the re-induction of Saroori in the state cabinet, while there is speculation about the likely induction of Dooru MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir in the cabinet.

Congress To Replace Some Of ItsMinisters In The Coalition Government Led By Omar Abdullah With New Faces

Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST