M A I N   N E W S

Omar to rejig ministry, tells ministers to quit
* Resignations likely to be handed over today
* NC’s organisational structure to be revamped
Arun Joshi
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 12
In a bold move to reshape his ministry and organisational structure of his party, the National Conference, in the run-up to the Assembly elections in 2014, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sought resignations from all ministers, advisers of the National Conference, which is leading the coalition government with the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides, he has sought the resignations of chairmen and vice-chairmen of various corporations, according to sources in the government.

It is now clear that there will be a complete overhaul of the ministry as well as the organisational structure of the National Conference.

“The resignations are likely to be handed over to the Chief Minister tomorrow,” the source said.

Earlier, it was given out that only the Congress would effect a reshuffle among its ministers. There are 24 ministers, including the Chief Minister.

That had created resentment among National Conference leaders, who were aspiring for ministerial berths ever since the government was sworn in on January 5, 2009.

The National Conference had come under severe pressure to reshuffle its pack of ministers after the Congress mounted pressure to get back its portfolios of public works and school education from the Chief Minister, who had taken these over after sacking PWD minister GM Saroori and divesting another Congress minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed of the school education portfolio.

The Congress also had a vacant post of minister in its share. That, too, is to be filled in the forthcoming reshuffle, scheduled to be held any day after January 15, after the return of Governor N N Vohra from New Delhi.

“Some of the ministers would go to the party and some of the party men would find place in the ministry”, the source said, indicating that there would be an overhaul in the organisation as well. The National Conference is facing crisis of leadership because of the health concerns of NC president and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah. National Conference, the sources said, was also dismayed by the fact that some of its leaders, particularly general secretary Sheikh Nazir, had raised the contentious issue of plebiscite in one of his recent statements.

That had not gone down well with the Congress and the party had conveyed its displeasure to the National Conference in very strong terms. It is learnt that Omar in his capacity as “working president” of the party would bring in major changes in the organisation.

NC under pressure

• The National Conference was under pressure to reshuffle its pack of ministers
• This was after Congress was seeking to get back its portfolios of public works and school education from the CM, which he had taken over after the sacking of two ministers

Contentious issue

• The NC was also dismayed as some of its leaders, particularly general secretary Sheikh Nazir, had raised the contentious issue of plebiscite in one of his recent statements. That had not gone down well with the Congress.