Srinagar, October 27: The much-awaited Jammu and Kashmir cabinet reshuffle took shape on Tuesday as four National Conference (NC) legislators — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo — were sworn in as ministers in the Omar Abdullah-led government.Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar. The ceremony was attended by senior political leaders and government officials.The NC cabinet expansion marks a significant change in the council of ministers, while senior party leader Mubarak Gul expressed disappointment over being excluded from the reshuffle.“I have attended 30 oath-taking ceremonies till now. Every time I was dropped, and today as well, I am being dropped,” Gul told reporters outside Lok Bhawan.Meanwhile, Shamima Firdous expressed happiness over the opportunity given to her by the party, saying she would continue to work harder. Her induction came as a surprise, as she had not figured prominently among the frontrunners ahead of the Omar Abdullah cabinet reshuffle.Mir Saifullah also thanked the party leadership and Almighty Allah for the opportunity to join the government.“I am really thankful to the Dr Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference leadership and Almighty Allah for this opportunity,” he said.Ali Mohammad Sagar and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo were among the leaders widely expected to enter the cabinet amid speculation over changes in the existing ministerial lineup.With four legislators taking oath, the Jammu and Kashmir government has introduced new faces into its ministerial team. However, Mubarak Gul’s remarks have drawn attention to the disappointment surrounding the latest National Conference cabinet reshuffle.
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