M A I N   N E W S

Azad’s 13-member coalition govt sworn in Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 2
Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad was sworn in as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister here today succeeding Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as per the agreement between the two main alliance partners, Congress and the PDP, each leading the team for three years.

Twelve others, including two Ministers of State, were also sworn in. Of the 13, two ministers were new faces with all others having served their term as ministers in the Mufti government.

The Governor, Lt-Gen (retd) S.K. Sinha, administered the oath of office to the ministers at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here this evening.

While Mr Azad held his first Cabinet meeting soon after the swearing-in ceremony, the distribution of portfolios has not been done yet. The Chief Minister later disclosed that the distribution of portfolios would be made before November 7 when the Civil Secretariat and other government offices reopen for winter months in the winter capital, Jammu.

The Council of Ministers is also being expanded within a couple of months, Mr Azad said and added that his Council of Ministers would not be a jumbo Ministry but would remain smaller in size.

The new Ministry besides the Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, included Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh of the PDP, who will be the Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Senior Congress leader and former deputy Chief Minister in the Mufti-led government, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, was also sworn in as Cabinet minister.

The function was attended by the Union Minister for Home, Mr Shivraj Patil, his deputy, Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal, AICC General Secretary, Ambika Soni, Mr Saifuddin Soz, outgoing Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, National Conference President Omar Abdullah, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and legislators.

Unlike in the past the swearing-in ceremony was a low-key affair, in view of last month’s devastating earthquake in Kashmir and Saturday’s blasts in Delhi.

Apart from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister those sworn in included Mangat Ram Sharma (Congress), Mr Abdul Aziz Zargar (PDP), Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen (PDF), Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed (Congress), Qazi Mohammad Afzal (PDP), Nawang Rigzin Jora and Haji Nissar Ali (Associate members of Congress), Taj Mohiuddin (Cong), Mr Tariq Hameed Qarra (PDP), as Cabinet Ministers Mr Gulchain Singh Charak and Mr Jitender Singh of the Congress were also sworn in as Ministers of State. The two new faces in the Council include Tariq Hameed Qarra and Gulchain Singh Charak.

PM assures Azad of continued support
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 2
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Ghulam Nabi Azad that the Centre will extend continued support as regards all initiatives taken by him as the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.

Expressing a “tinge of sadness on your departure from the Union Cabinet,” Dr Manmohan Singh said in a letter to Mr Azad, “There is also a sense of joy that you are taking on a challenging assignment as the Chief Minister of J and K.”

“I wish you well in your future efforts and assure continued support to all initiatives taken in Jammu and Kashmir under your command,” he has said.

Praising Mr Azad’s work at the Centre, he said, “You have been a valued colleague in the Union Cabinet and your contribution towards the work of your department and to the work of the government as a whole are indeed commendable.”

The policy initiatives launched in the urban development sphere, including the groundwork done for the launch of the Urban Renewable Mission were going to leave a lasting impact on the urban landscape, the Prime Minister observed.

The Prime Minister said as the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Azad had contributed a great deal to the smooth and successful conduct of the government business in Parliament and ensured excellent coordination with all concerned.