LG allocates portfolios to cabinet ministers

Srinagar, Oct 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday allocated portfolios to the newly-inducted ministers in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led Council of Ministers.

As per the order assigning portfolios to the ministers, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary will hold the charge of Public Works (R&B); Industries and Commerce; Mining, Labour and Employment and Skill Development Departments.

Sakina Itoo has been assigned the charge of important ministries of Health and Medical Education; School Education; Higher Education and Social Welfare.

Itoo had earlier also served as the Social Welfare Minister in the previous term of the NC-Congress government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

Javed Ahmed Rana has been allocated the departments of Jal Shakti; Forest, Ecology and Environment and Tribal Affairs.

Javid Ahmad Dar will be the Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative, and Election.

Satish Sharma has been assigned the charge of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Trainings.

“Any other departments or subjects not allocated to any of the ministers will remain with the Chief Minister,” the order read.

Official circles believe that Rana, a prominent Gujjar leader, in particular, has been assigned crucial Forest and Tribal Affairs ministries to address lingering issues related to Scheduled Tribes including Gujjars and Bakerwals.

With crucial assignments of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Cooperatives in hand, Dar will be expected to focus on ameliorating the plight of farmers and horticulturists by addressing distress in these critical sectors.

The LG allocated portfolios to the newly-inducted ministers in pursuance of Rule 4(2) of the Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Rules, 2019.

As per the rules governing UT of J&K, the Council of Ministers may have only nine ministers (including the Chief Minister).

“Three more vacancies of ministers will also be filled up soon,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, speaking to the media after his oath-taking ceremony.