Srinagar, Oct 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday to discuss several important matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir, including the much-awaited expansion of the Council of Ministers, highly placed sources privy to the developments said on Friday.
Sources indicated that the proposed meeting could prove crucial in determining the timing of the cabinet expansion, which is likely to take place early next week if the anticipated discussions proceed as expected.
“The Chief Minister is likely to meet the Lieutenant Governor tomorrow. Several important matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir are expected to come up for discussion, with cabinet expansion also likely to figure on the agenda,” sources said.
They indicated that the expansion could follow within three to four days of the proposed meeting, subject to the completion of necessary consultations and formalities.
The anticipated meeting assumes significance amid heightened political speculation over the expansion of the Omar Abdullah-led ministry, which has remained pending for several months.
The National Conference leadership has repeatedly indicated that the exercise would be undertaken, but a formal announcement regarding its timing and the names of prospective ministers has yet to be made.
Earlier, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had indicated that the expansion would be taken up following consultations with National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
Farooq Abdullah had also indicated that the expansion would take place following the return of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to the Valley.
The Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers currently has six members, including the Chief Minister, against the maximum permissible strength of nine under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, leaving three ministerial berths vacant.
The proposed expansion has generated considerable political interest, particularly over the possible induction of new faces, regional representation and the allocation of portfolios.
The Congress, which supports the National Conference government from outside, has maintained that it will not join the ministry until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is restored.
The Omar Abdullah government has been functioning with its existing ministerial strength since assuming office in October 2024, with several ministers holding multiple portfolios.
Sources indicated that while the proposed meeting is expected to cover broader administrative and governance-related matters, the cabinet expansion could emerge as one of its key discussions.
However, there has been no official confirmation of the meeting or the final schedule for the cabinet expansion. (KNS)
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