JAMMU, OCTOBER 10, 2026 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to undertake the first major reshuffle of his Council of Ministers next week, with five new ministers expected to be inducted and two sitting ministers likely to be dropped, according to a report citing sources.
The proposed changes are expected to take the Council of Ministers to its maximum permitted strength of nine, including the Chief Minister. The oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held in Srinagar, where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is expected to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the incoming ministers.
The anticipated Cabinet expansion comes just days before the Omar Abdullah-led government completes two years in office on October 16, 2026.
Five National Conference Leaders in the Fray
According to sources cited in the report, five senior leaders of the ruling National Conference are likely to be inducted into the Cabinet:
- Abdul Rahim Rather — MLA from Charar-e-Sharief and currently the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
- Ali Mohammad Sagar — MLA from Khanyar and a senior National Conference leader.
- Nazir Gurezi — MLA representing the Gurez Assembly constituency.
- Altaf Kalloo — MLA from Pahalgam.
- Aijaz Jan — MLA from Poonch, representing the Jammu region.
Rather and Sagar are seven-time legislators, while Gurezi is serving his fourth term. Kalloo and Jan are second-time MLAs.
The reported selection places considerable emphasis on legislative experience and seniority. Sources indicated that the party leadership had decided against inducting first-time legislators into the Cabinet during the proposed reshuffle.
The names remain subject to the final decision and formal announcement by the government.
Abdul Rahim Rather May Resign as Assembly Speaker
Abdul Rahim Rather is expected to step down as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ahead of his possible induction into the Council of Ministers.
According to the report, Mubarak Gul is under consideration for the Speaker’s post if Rather leaves the position. Gul has previously served as Speaker and is among the senior-most legislators in the National Conference.
Any change in the Assembly’s presiding officer would form an important part of the broader political and administrative realignment accompanying the Cabinet expansion.
Two Sitting Ministers May Be Dropped
Two of the existing ministers are expected to be removed from the Council of Ministers to accommodate the incoming members while keeping the Cabinet within its constitutional limit.
Sources cited in the report said the Chief Minister had already obtained resignations from all five sitting ministers. The resignations of the two ministers proposed to be dropped would be forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor for acceptance.
The identities of the two ministers expected to leave the Cabinet have not been specified in the report.
The government is also expected to reshuffle ministerial portfolios following the induction of new members. This could lead to changes in the distribution of administrative responsibilities across departments.
Cabinet Strength Limited to Nine Ministers
Jammu and Kashmir has a 90-member Legislative Assembly. Under the applicable constitutional framework for Union Territories with legislatures, the Council of Ministers is limited to 10 per cent of the Assembly’s strength, subject to the prescribed minimum.
For Jammu and Kashmir, this translates to a maximum of nine ministers, including the Chief Minister.
At present, Omar Abdullah is heading a Cabinet comprising five other ministers, taking the total strength to six. The proposed induction of five new ministers alongside the removal of two sitting ministers would bring the total to nine.
The reported arrangement would therefore fill the available ministerial positions without exceeding the prescribed limit.
Regional Representation in the Cabinet
The existing Cabinet has three ministers each from the Jammu and Kashmir divisions, in addition to the Chief Minister.
Among the five leaders reportedly under consideration, four represent constituencies in the Kashmir division, while Aijaz Jan represents Poonch in the Jammu division.
The proposed expansion will draw attention to the regional distribution of ministerial positions, particularly as political representation and administrative balance remain important considerations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The final composition will become clear only after the government formally announces the appointments and portfolios.
Congress Maintains Distance From Government
The Congress, which contested the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in alliance with the National Conference, has continued to support the Omar Abdullah government from outside without joining the Council of Ministers.
According to the report, Congress leaders have maintained that the party will not join the government until Jammu and Kashmir is granted statehood.
The position means the anticipated expansion is expected to involve National Conference leaders rather than representatives of the Congress or independent MLAs.
Sources cited in the report said the National Conference leadership had decided not to induct any independent MLA into the ministry.
Reshuffle Follows GST Council Meeting
The proposed Cabinet changes come after months of speculation about a reshuffle.
Omar Abdullah had recently indicated that the exercise would take place after the GST Council meeting in New Delhi, which was held on October 9, 2026.
With that meeting concluded, attention has shifted towards the possibility of an announcement in the coming week.
The reshuffle would be the first major change in the Council of Ministers since the government assumed office and would coincide with the completion of its second year.
What Happens Next?
The immediate developments to watch are the formal announcement of the Cabinet expansion, confirmation of the five proposed appointments, the identities of any ministers leaving office and the allocation of portfolios.
The possible appointment of Mubarak Gul as Assembly Speaker will also be closely watched if Rather resigns from the post.
Until official notifications are issued, the proposed appointments and removals remain anticipated changes based on information attributed to sources, rather than confirmed government decisions.
Key Details
- Date: October 10, 2026
- Chief Minister: Omar Abdullah
- Expected expansion: Next week in Srinagar
- New ministers likely: Five
- Sitting ministers likely to be dropped: Two
- Maximum Cabinet strength: Nine, including the Chief Minister
- Possible new Speaker: Mubarak Gul
- Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
- Two-year milestone: October 16, 2026
- Congress position: Supporting the government from outside until statehood is granted, according to the report
The anticipated reshuffle could mark a significant organisational change for the Omar Abdullah government, with senior National Conference legislators expected to take on ministerial responsibilities. The final outcome will depend on official confirmation from the government.
