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Omar infuses fresh blood, inducts 10 new ministers
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 15
In the run-up to the 2014 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today infused fresh blood in his Council of Ministers by inducting ten legislators of the National Conference (NC) and the Congress as new ministers. Seven ministers, including four of Cabinet rank, were dropped in the first major reshuffle in the four-year-old NC-Congress coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah.

Although some experienced stalwarts were inducted in the ministry, young faces were given priority by both the parties. Governor N N Vohra administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers in the swearing-in ceremony which was held here at Raj Bhawan today.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mir Saifullah (all NC), Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Abdul Majid Wani (both from Cong) took oath as Cabinet ministers. Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi (all NC) were inducted as MoS with Independent charge while Vakar Rasool of the Congress was inducted as MoS.

The NC has dropped three Cabinet ministers - Surjit Singh Slathia, Qamar Ali Akhoon and Abdul Gani Malik - and three MoS - Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, Nasir Aslam Wani and Javid Ahmad Dar. The Congress has axed Cabinet minister Rajinder Singh Chib, who was holding the portfolio of Sports, Youth Affairs and Medical and Health Education.

The NC has inducted three young faces - Kitchloo (MLA from Kishtwar), Feroz Ahmed Khan (MLA from Zanskar) and Nazir Ahmed Gurezi (MLA from Gurez). The Congress has inducted Vakar Rasool, a young MLA from the Banihal area as MoS.

First Lady Usha Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Chairman, Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Saif ud Din Soz and AICC general secretary Mohan Parkash, who is in charge of J&K Congress, were prominent among those present in the oath-taking ceremony. Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Dr Farooq Abdullah were conspicuous by their absence during the ceremony.

Earlier, Governor N N Vohra on the recommendation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accepted the resignations of Surjit Singh Slathia, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Abdul Gani Malik, Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, Rajinder Singh Chib, Nasir Aslam Wani and Javid Ahmad Dar from the Council of Ministers.

There were a total of 22 ministers in Omar Abdullah Council of Ministers, which could have a maximum of 25 ministers or 20 per cent of the total strength of the bicameral House -- 89 MLAs and 36 MLCs. With today’s reshuffle, Abdullah is now heading a 25-member Council of Ministers.

Earlier, all ministers of the National Conference (NC) submitted their resignation letters to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, enabling him to constitute a fresh Council of Ministers. Three more legislators, who are holding the status of MoS namely Shameema Firdaus, vice chairperson J&K Commission for Women, Rashpal Singh, vice chairman J&K Kissan Advisory Board, and Mushtaq Bukhari, vice chairman, Board for the development of Pahari speaking people too tendered their resignations on the CM’s direction.

Those sworn in
Cabinet ministers: Mohammad Akbar Lone, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mir Saifullah (all NC). Ghulam Ahmed Mir and Abdul Majid Wani (both Congress).
MoS with Independent charge: Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi (all NC).
MoS: Vakar Rasool (Cong)

Governor accepts resignations
Governor NN Vohra on Tuesday accepted the resignations of NC ministers Surjit Singh Slathia, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Abdul Gani Malik, Aga Syed Ruhulla Mehdi, Nasir Aslam Wani and Javid Ahmad Dar and Congress minister Rajinder Singh Chib. The resignations of the ministers were recommended and forwarded to the Governor by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.