Srinagar, Oct 24: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the much-awaited expansion of his Council of Ministers could take place in the first two or three days of next week, adding that the list of ministers had already been finalised after consultations with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah.
Omar said he had discussed the cabinet reshuffle with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and requested him to schedule the expansion early next week.
“I requested him to give me time for the expansion and urged him to schedule it within the first two or three days of next week. I will then make some changes to and expand my Council of Ministers,” Omar told reporters after meeting the Lieutenant Governor.
He said the expansion process would proceed once the Lieutenant Governor fixed the time.
Omar also appealed to party colleagues seeking ministerial positions to stop lobbying, saying the decision had already been taken.
“The list has already been prepared after consultations with Dr Farooq Abdullah. There is no need to knock on Dr Farooq Abdullah’s door, my door or anyone else’s door,” he said.
“The decision about who will become a minister has not to be made now; it has already been made,” he added, urging his colleagues to exercise patience.
Omar also asked aspirants not to send him messages seeking ministerial positions.
“Please stop knocking on doors. Do not send me WhatsApp messages. I am receiving so many WhatsApp messages, and people are writing long messages, almost entire books,” he said.
The proposed expansion is expected to bring changes to the existing Council of Ministers, although Omar did not disclose the names of those who would be inducted or dropped.
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