Srinagar, Oct 27 (KNS): Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday expressed serious reservations over what he described as “grave issues of unrepresentativeness” in the newly expanded Jammu and Kashmir cabinet, even as he extended his best wishes to the new Council of Ministers.

Reacting to the cabinet expansion headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lone questioned the representative character of the ministry but chose not to elaborate on his concerns at this stage.

“Good luck to the new cabinet. Have my reservations about some grave issues of unrepresentativeness. But let us leave that for some other day,” Lone wrote in a post on X.

The Peoples Conference chief also expressed hope that the government would honour the commitments made to the people during the Assembly elections.

“And let us hope, if even, against hope, that they work to fulfill the promises in their election manifesto,” he said.

“Good Luck once again,” Lone added.

His remarks came hours after the Omar Abdullah-led government expanded its Council of Ministers, inducting four National Conference legislators in a significant political exercise aimed at strengthening the administration.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

While Lone refrained from identifying the specific issues of representation troubling him, his remarks brought the question of inclusiveness and political representation in the cabinet into focus.

The Peoples Conference president's response combined a message of goodwill for the newly inducted ministers with criticism of the composition of the cabinet and scepticism over the government's ability to deliver on its electoral commitments.

The cabinet expansion comes amid heightened political expectations, with the National Conference government facing scrutiny over the implementation of promises made ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections.

Lone's remarks signal that the composition of the new ministry, alongside the government's performance on its election commitments, is likely to remain a subject of political debate in Jammu and Kashmir. (KNS)