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Reshuffle of J&K Ministry on the cards

SRINAGAR: The much awaited reshuffle of the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir is likely to happen shortly with the Congress high command now having asked Mr. Azad to furnish a list of three names for induction into the Council of Ministers. There are also signs of a ceasefire between the Congress and the PDP, the two main ruling coalition partners.

According to political sources here, a major reshuffle of portfolios of the ministers is also expected in case Congress president Sonia Gandhi gives the go-ahead for filling longstanding vacancies.

Sources said that both parties are keen now to mend fences and indications are that the PDP has decided not to contest the upcoming Poonch by-election, leaving the field open for the Congress. The PDP has also cleared the name of Mr. Baig for re-induction into the Cabinet as Deputy Chief Minister though he is unlikely to get the Finance portfolio.

It is, however, not known whether the PDP would return Mr. Afzal as minister or will replace him. According to sources, there is a possibility of elevating a junior minister from the PDP to Cabinet rank.

As far as the Congress is concerned, sources said, Mr. Azad has been asked to furnish three names who would be representing the Dalit community, the Kashmiri Pandits and the Kashmir Valley.

Though the name of State Assembly Speaker Tara Chand is being considered, no final decision has been taken.

Sources also said that Delhi-based Congress leader Ashok Bhan has emerged as a frontrunner to represent the Kashmiri Pandit community. He played a vital role in bringing the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference to the table for talks with the Prime Minister. He is also the convener of the Kashmir Committee headed by Ram Jethmalani. Sources said that Mr. Azad as well as other senior Congress leaders had thrown their weight behind Mr. Bhan.

After the November 2005 takeover from his predecessor Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the issue of expanding the Council of Ministers has remained unresolved. It is partly because of ever present bickering between the Congress and the PDP.

The relations soured further when the senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig was recalled by the party as Deputy Chief Minister following Mr. Azad’s decision to retain him as Finance Minister.

The two parties have not met since on the issue of expanding the Ministry.

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Reshuffle of J&K Ministry on the cards

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