Seven-time MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar, four-time legislator Mir Saifullah among four senior leaders inducted into Omar Abdullah ministry; Satish Sharma dropped
Srinagar, Oct 27: The National Conference’s first major cabinet reshuffle since returning to power in Jammu and Kashmir in October 2024 places seniority and legislative experience at the centre of the party’s ministerial choices, with four seasoned legislators set to join Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government today.
The induction of Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamim Firdous and Altaf Kalloo underlines the party’s preference for experienced lawmakers, including leaders with multiple Assembly terms and previous ministerial experience. Independent minister Satish Sharma has been dropped in the reshuffle.
Sagar, a seven-time MLA from Khanyar in Srinagar, is among the most experienced legislators in the party and has held ministerial positions in previous governments. Saifullah, a four-time legislator who represented Kupwara for three terms before winning from the newly created Trehgam constituency, also brings previous ministerial experience to the Council of Ministers.
The two leaders stand out in the reshuffle for their long legislative careers, reflecting the importance attached to political experience and seniority in the reconstitution of the ministry.
Shamim Firdous, a three-time MLA from Habbakadal, and Kalloo, a two-time MLA from Pahalgam who has also served in the Legislative Council, are also set to be inducted. Both will enter the Council of Ministers for the first time, bringing their legislative experience to the government.
The selection of the four legislators marks a shift towards accommodating established party leaders in the ministry, while retaining a balance between seniority, regional representation and the party’s organisational considerations.
The reshuffle also gives representation to different parts of the Kashmir Valley. Sagar and Firdous hail from Srinagar district, Saifullah represents north Kashmir, and Kalloo comes from south Kashmir, party sources told Kashmir News Service.
Shamima Firdous will become the second woman in the ministry after Sakina Itoo, who currently holds the portfolios of Health and Medical Education, Education, and Social Welfare.
With the four inductions, the Council of Ministers will reach its maximum permissible strength of nine, including the chief minister. Seven members will be from Kashmir division and two from Jammu division.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, the National Conference MLA from Nowshera who defeated former Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina in the Assembly elections, will remain the lone Hindu member of the ministry.
The four legislators are scheduled to take oath at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar at 10.30 am, according to sources.
The reshuffle comes nearly two years after the National Conference formed the government following the 2024 Assembly elections. During the initial phase of government formation, the party inducted Sakina Itoo and Javid Ahmad Dar into the ministry.
The latest exercise follows consultations on the composition of the government, including the accommodation of senior legislators and representation of different regions. The Congress, an alliance partner of the National Conference, has stayed out of the government until statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir, leaving Omar Abdullah to proceed with the Cabinet expansion without Congress representation.
With four senior legislators entering the ministry and Sharma being dropped, the reshuffle marks the first major restructuring of the Omar Abdullah-led government since it assumed office in October 2024.
