Srinagar, Sept 23 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has indicated that the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle is likely to be carried out in the first week of October, with the exercise having been deliberately held back to allow the existing ministers to face the Autumn Session of the Legislative Assembly, well-placed sources told KNS.

According to the sources, Abdullah conveyed the proposed timeline during a meeting with National Conference legislators ahead of the ongoing Assembly session.

The Chief Minister, sources said, sought feedback from the legislators during the meeting, asking them to speak if they had any suggestions, concerns or issues they wanted to raise. However, none of the MLAs spoke.

Sources said Abdullah appeared to sense some displeasure among the legislators and subsequently indicated that the reshuffle would be undertaken in the first week of October.

The Chief Minister also explained the rationale behind delaying the exercise. Sources said he told the legislators that the ministers currently heading various departments needed to remain in their positions during the Assembly session as they were familiar with the functioning of their respective departments and would therefore be better placed to respond to questions and defend the government’s performance on the floor of the House.

Eaelier on July 1, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that the cabinet reshuffle and expansion would take place around the party’s Jantar Mantar protest.

In an interview with a news channel, the CM had said that cabinet expansion is his responsibility and would take place around the Jantar Mantar protest, either before or after it.

"The Jantar Mantar protest would take place on the first day of the Monsoon session, which is likely to begin on July 20.” He said it has become necessary to make progress on cabinet expansion following the Dachigam meeting on June 3."

The decision effectively pushed back the reshuffle from the period immediately after Independence Day, when the Chief Minister had publicly indicated that the cabinet expansion would take place sometime after August 15.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on August 10, Abdullah had said the expansion was “work in progress” and would not take place before August 15, explaining that ministers had been assigned Independence Day speeches and should be allowed to complete that responsibility first.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

However, with the Autumn Session approaching, the exercise was subsequently put on hold. On September 11, reports quoting sources said there were no chances of a cabinet expansion during the month as the Assembly session was due to begin on September 21.

Sources familiar with the latest discussions said the Chief Minister has now indicated that the exercise would be taken up after the session, with the first week of October emerging as the likely timeframe.

Abdullah, sources said, also cautioned party legislators against any public statements or conduct that could damage the image of ministers or provide the Opposition with an opportunity to target the government.

He is understood to have made it clear that while differences and concerns could be discussed within the party, he would not tolerate anything that could undermine the credibility of the ministers or give political ammunition to the Opposition.

A senior national conference leader who was part of meeting confirmed KNS that Chief Minister informed about the much awaited cabinet reshuffle in first week of October.

The proposed reshuffle comes amid months of speculation over changes in the Council of Ministers, including the induction of new faces and possible redistribution of portfolios. The J&K Council currently has six ministers, with scope for three additional ministers under the applicable legal ceiling.

The issue of Congress joining the government has also figured prominently in discussions around the proposed expansion. J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra had earlier told KNS that the National Conference had approached the Congress with an offer of cabinet berths, but the party had declined it, maintaining that restoration of statehood remained its priority.

Karra subsequently publicly reiterated that Congress would not join the Council of Ministers until statehood and the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were restored.

The latest indication of an October reshuffle comes as the Autumn Session enters its final phase, with the government facing questions from the Opposition on governance and other public issues.(KNS)