J&K Assembly Budget Session

NC-led govt likely to face opposition with 40% less ministerial strength
Decision to fill three vacant positions lies with CM
Jammu, Feb 19: With just two weeks remaining for the maiden budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Legislative Assembly, the National Conference (NC)-led government is expected to conduct the session with 40% fewer ministers than the required strength.
As per the law, the ministerial strength in the 90-member J&K Assembly must be 10% of the total House strength, meaning the government should have nine (9) ministers. However, the Omar Abdullah-led government currently has only six (6) ministers, leaving three positions vacant.
“It is now the prerogative of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to either appoint three additional ministers before the budget session begins or proceed with the existing six-member cabinet,” Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma told Rising Kashmir.
Senior NC leaders have remained unavailable for comments regarding the party’s stance on filling the vacant ministerial positions.
NC holds 42 seats in the Assembly and enjoys the support of four independent MLAs. Communist Party of India (Marxist) has one MLA from Kulgam, Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has one MLA from Doda.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initially won 29 seats, all from the Jammu region, but following the death of Devender Singh Rana (MLA, Nagrota), its strength has reduced to 28.
Congress, which is NC’s alliance partner, secured six seats—one in Jammu (Rajouri) and five in Kashmir.
The budget session is set to commence in early March, and all eyes are on the NC leadership to see whether it will make the required ministerial appointments or move forward with an incomplete cabinet.