Parvaiz Wani CNI
Tanvir Sadiq, Farooq Shah, Dr. Veeri, Mian Mehar, Qaiser Lone, likely to be inducted
Dr. Farooq, Chaudhry Ramzan and Shammi Oberoi likely to be party candidates for Rajya Sabha
Srinagar | Tuesday, August 22: As per highly authoritative sources in the National Conference, the party has finalized four names likely to be inducted into the J&K Cabinet later this week.
While Tanvir Sadiq, the party Chief Spokesperson and a close aide of CM Omar Abdullah has been finalized to represent Srinagar in the Cabinet, former IAS officer and MLA Tangmarg has also been selected to represent North Kashmir.
As per a highly reliable source close to the CM, Dr. Bashir Veeri MLA Bijbehera is likely to be inducted into the Cabinet and rewarded for his performance in the elections particularly in defeating Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti. A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Veeri is likely to be allocated the portfolio of Health and Medical Education, relieving Sakina Ittoo of the charge.
Son of MP and influential Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmed and MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali is also tipped to be inducted into the Cabinet to represent the Gujjar vote bank of the party and to pacify Mian Altaf Ahmed who seems to be miffed at being distanced from the government’s core functioning.
MLA Lolab and three time legislator Qaiser Jamsheed Lone is also likely to be inducted into the Cabinet despite alleged opposition by CM’s Advisor Nasir Sogami who also hails from Lolab and unsuccessfully contested the elections from Kupwara constituency.
Besides this, the party has also decided to field its President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Former Minister Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan for Rajya Sabha while supporting Congress for a possible third Rajya Sabha seat that the NC-Congress alliance could try to wrest. The name of Party Treasurer and a close friend of CM Omar Abdullah, Shammi Oberoi is also being seriously considered for the Rajya Sabha nomination.
Incumbent Minister Satish Sharma is likely to be dropped from the Cabinet under pressure from the core NC brass within the party and also owing to his perceived lackluster performance as a Minister.
Farooq Shah, a former IAS officer and MLA Tangmarg is likely to be allocated the portfolios of Tourism and R&B based on his extensive experience spanning decades.
Surprising absence of NC Youth Leader and MLA Hazratbal Salman Sagar as well as NC General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar from the Cabinet Expansion is likely due to apprehensions of the top brass about the father-son duo’s growing influence within the party.
The Cabinet Expansion likely to be formalized by the end of this week has been proposed by the CM and approved by the Party President.
While Congress has repeatedly maintained its unwillingness to join the Cabinet until Statehood is restored, a final exclusion of the Congress from the J&K Cabinet is likely to be seen as a positive gesture of the National Conference towards the BJP-led Govenment at the Center.