Srinagar:
Ending days of speculation over the much-awaited Cabinet expansion in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers on Tuesday, October 27, at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am at the Lok Bhavan Auditorium, according to the official invitation issued for the occasion, formally confirming the expansion of the Omar Abdullah-led Council of Ministers.
The development comes as the National Conference-led government prepares to induct new faces into the Cabinet, a move that is expected to have political significance as the administration moves ahead with its governance agenda.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had recently met the Lieutenant Governor and discussed the Cabinet expansion, saying he had requested time for the process. He had also indicated that he was receiving messages and calls from party colleagues expressing their interest in joining the Council of Ministers, while making it clear that he was familiar with their profiles.
The oath-taking ceremony will mark an important step in the expansion of the Council of Ministers, more than two years after Omar Abdullah took over as Chief Minister in October 2024.
According to the invitation, guests have been asked to confirm their participation by 5 pm on October 26 to facilitate security arrangements. Invitees have also been directed to carry their invitation cards and report at the venue by 10 am.
While the schedule is now official, attention is likely to remain focused on the names of the legislators who will find a place in the expanded Cabinet and the political and regional balance the Chief Minister seeks to maintain while finalising his team.
