Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assigned portfolios to the newly inducted ministers in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cabinet. In an order dated October 17, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Secretariat stated, “In accordance with Rule 4 (2) of the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019, I, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, hereby assign government business to the ministers as detailed in the Annexure.”
According to the order, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary will oversee Public Works (R&B), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development. Sakeena Masood (Itoo) has been tasked with Health and Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, and Social Welfare.
Javed Ahmed Rana will handle Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Tribal Affairs, while Javid Ahmad Dar will manage Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives, and Elections. Satish Sharma has been assigned responsibilities for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Training.
The order also specified that any departments or subjects not allocated to ministers will remain under the Chief Minister’s authority. This cabinet follows the recent assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The recent assembly elections, held after a ten-year gap, resulted in a victory for the NC-Congress alliance, with JKNC winning 42 seats and Congress securing six. The BJP also performed well securing 29 seats, while the People’s Democratic Party won three. Additionally, one seat each was won by the People’s Conference, CPI-M, and AAP, with Independents claiming seven seats.
A day after being sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah chaired his inaugural cabinet meeting on Thursday at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
Omar Abdullah previously served as Chief Minister from 2009 to 2014.
The results of the three-phase elections were announced on October 8, marking the first electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.
(ANI)
