CM keeps Finance, Power, H&UD, Revenue, Law, Tourism etc
*Re-allocation after further expansion of Ministry
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has kept charges of Finance, Power, Housing and Urban Development, Tourism, Revenue, General Administration Department (GAD), Law and Parliamentary Affairs and some other departments with him while distributing portfolios among his five Ministers including the Deputy Chief Minister today.
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There are three vacancies in the Council of Ministers and charge of some of the Departments with CM as well as with five other Ministers can be allocated whenever the Chief Minister expands his Cabinet.
An order allocating the portfolios was issued by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today.
The order said any department not allocated to any of the Ministers shall remain with the Chief Minister.
The portfolio of Finance, Power, Housing and Urban Development, GAD, Revenue, Law and Parliamentary Affairs besides charge of some other departments remained with the Chief Minister.
Omar can present first budget of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory whenever budget session of the Legislative Assembly is called by the Government unless charge of the Finance Department is given to anyone else before the budget presentation.
In the previous PDP-BJP coalition Government, the Finance Department was held by Dr Haseeb Drabu while prior to that in National Conference-Congress Government, NC veteran Abdul Rahim Rather handled the Finance portfolio. Click here to watch video
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, a National Conference leader who defeated BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina in Nowshera Assembly constituency of Rajouri district, has been allotted Public Works (R&B), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment and Skill Development Departments.
Choudhary is the first time Minister as well as MLA. However, he was a member of Legislative Council previously.
Another National Conference leader Sakeena Masood (Itoo), has been allocated Health and Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare Departments.
Sakeena, who has been elected from Damhal Hanjipora, had also earlier served as the Minister including when she was elected MLA for the first time in 1996. She was member of both Houses including Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
The Central Government had dissolved the Legislative Council after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019.
Sakeena’s father Wali Mohammad Itoo, a former Speaker, was shot dead by the militants when he came out of the mosque after offering prayers at Talab Khatikan in heart of the Jammu City in 1994.
Javed Ahmed Rana, another senior National Conference leader and a third-time MLA from Mendhar Assembly constituency in Poonch district of Jammu region, has been given the charge of Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs.
National Conference leader Javid Ahmad Dar, who has been elected from Rafiabad seat of Kashmir, will hold the charge of Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election. Dar had earlier served as Minister of State for Roads and Buildings in NC-Congress coalition Government headed by Omar Abdullah in 2008.
Satish Sharma, who won Chhamb seat in Jammu district as an Independent candidate defeating former BJP MLA Rajiv Sharma and relegating Congress working president and ex Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand to third spot, has been allocated the charge of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports and ARI & Trainings.
Satish was denied ticket by the Congress and he jumped into the electoral fray as an Independent candidate from Chhamb. After his election, he had extended support to the National Conference.
There are three vacancies in the Council of Ministry. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir can have nine Ministers (10 percent of total strength of the Legislative Assembly). The Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and four Ministers had taken oath on October 16.
Omar to visit NC Hqrs today
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will reach here tomorrow afternoon on his first visit to Jammu City.
Yesterday, Omar visited Warwan in Kishtwar district to meet fire-affected families.
The Chief Minister will reach here tomorrow afternoon and visit National Conference headquarters at Sher-i-Kashmir Bhawan to address party leaders and workers.
Omar will be accorded warm welcome by the party cadre on his first visit to the party office after becoming the Chief Minister.
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