The ruling National Conference and Congress in Jammu and Kashmir have decided not to go for a Cabinet reshuffle in the immediate future. Congress is likely to get back the two Cabinet portfolios that are presently with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“We will soon get back the power ministry and school education portfolio,” said a senior congress leader. According to a Congress source, the school education portfolio is likely to be given back to Peerzada Sayeed who was divested of this charge by the Chief Minister after reports emerged of his son using unfair means to score a distiction in his Class XII examinations. The power ministry is likely to be given to Sports Minister R.S. Chib, as the Congress does nothave any plans to induct any fresh minister in the Cabinet. Sources within the J&K Congress confirmed that the Cabinet reshuffle has been postponed owing to some “difficulties”. The National Conference developed cold feet over a reshuffle as it believed that this could trigger a “rebellion” within the party. The opposition PDP recently warned Abdullah, that if he went for a reshuffle he would witness defections.