Kaun Banega Mantri: Speculations on rise as cabinet expansion today

Though the two associate members of the coalition, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Hakim Muhammad Yasin, are the front runners, uncertainty remains for the inclusion in the state cabinet.

Srinagar, July 10: Amid growing speculations and heightened uncertainty among the contenders, the much awaited cabinet expansion of six months old National Conference led coalition government in the state would take place at SKICC, here, tomorrow.

The Raj Bhawan has issued invitation letters to all state legislators, senior officials from state bureaucracy and police for the oath taking ceremony to be held at SKICC, Saturday afternoon.

Though the date for the oath taking ceremony has been announced officially, chief minister Omar Abdullah and senior Congress functionaries have kept the list of the new ministers close to their chest leading to a growing uncertainty among the aspirants.

It was reliably learnt that most of the MLAs from the ruling alliance reached Srinagar this evening for participation in the ceremony tomorrow but no one knows about the final names cleared by the party high command.

As per the provisions the maximum strength of the state cabinet could be 25, including the chief minister. With total strengthen of 45 members in the state assembly; the coalition government has presently ten ministers, five each from Congress and National Conference leaving scope for inclusion of maximum fifteen more ministers in the cabinet.

Though the two associate members of the coalition, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Hakim Muhammad Yasin, are the front runners, uncertainty remains for the inclusion in the state cabinet.

Well informed sources told News Agency of Kashmir that the Congress was earlier insisting that the two MLAs should be included in the cabinet as coalition candidates but National Conference leaders were arguing that the duo be added in the quota of Congress only.

Sources told News Agency of Kashmir that if Mir and Yasin are included in coalition quota, Congress would get seven more seats in the new cabinet, while NC will have to accommodate with six only.

Names of NC MLAs including, Former chief secretary and MLC Vijay Bakaya, Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mustafa Kamal, Sakina Ittoo, Sajad Ahmed Kichloo, Abdul Gani Malik, Mir Saifullah, Nazir Sogami, Aga Sayed Rohaullah and Qamar Ali Akhoon and were making rounds for their inclusion in the cabinet.

On the other hand Congress has reportedly finalized names of Choudhary Muhammad Aslam, Raman Bhalla, Abdul Majid Wani and Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Dr Manhor Lal. However, names of GM Saroori and Sharief Naaz were also making rounds.

The party sources believe that the party may keep at least one seat vacant for a member of Upper House from Kashmir region. (NAK)