The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has recently assigned portfolios to the newly appointed ministers in the Chief Minister’s cabinet. The decision on the portfolio allocation was made based on the advice of the Chief Minister, and an official order was issued by the LG.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary has been allocated the portfolios of Public Works (R&B), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development, as reported by PTI.
The only female minister, Sakeena Masood (Itoo), has been given the important responsibilities of Health and Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, and Social Welfare. She previously served as the Social Welfare minister during Abdullah’s first tenure as CM in the erstwhile state.
Javed Ahmed Rana will oversee the departments of Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, while Javid Ahmad Dar has been assigned the ministries of Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative, and Election.
Satish Sharma has been tasked with 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 assigned to any minister will remain under the Chief Minister’s purview.
On another note, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first elected government in the union territory since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Furthermore, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah expressed optimism that the Centre would soon restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues like unemployment, traffic management, and corruption in order to improve the state’s overall situation. The government aims to fulfill the promises outlined in the NC’s manifesto and work towards a peaceful and progressive future for the region.