Omar Abdullah to MLAs: Stop sending WhatsApp messages, knocking on my and Farooq’s doors for ministerial berths; opposition calls it ‘cult of self’

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, after meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday, said a cabinet expansion was on the cards and urged party colleagues to stop sending him lengthy WhatsApp messages and book-length profiles seeking ministerial berths.He also advised them against knocking on his door or that of his father and National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah, to lobby for ministerial positions. The opposition described Omar’s portrayal of his party MLAs as demeaning to the political class and called it “the cult of self”.“The lieutenant governor sahab returned to Srinagar. In the meantime, his health had not been good, so I wanted to inquire about his well-being. There are also several issues on which it was necessary to meet him and seek his opinion from time to time. It had been a long time since I met him, so I sought an appointment today. He gave me time,” Omar told reporters after meeting the LG.“I know you people are not interested in anything else. You want to know whether I discussed the cabinet reshuffle with the LG sahab. Yes, absolutely. I sought an appointment with him for the expansion (of cabinet) and requested him to fix a time in the first two or three days of next week. So that I will make some changes and expand my council of ministers,” Omar said.He said the LG would fix a time for the process.“Now that I have told you about the reshuffle, I want to make a request to my colleagues, as news might have already spread about next week’s reshuffle. There is no need to knock on Farooq Abdullah’s door, my door or anyone else’s door,” Omar said.“The decision about who will become a minister has been taken. I request my colleagues to be patient. What is destined for them will happen. First, it is in God’s hands and then we took the decision. Whoever is destined to become a minister will become one. But please, do not knock on doors now. Do not send me WhatsApp messages,” he said.“I am receiving so many WhatsApp messages, with people writing lengthy resumes and sending me entire books. It is as if I do not know these people. They are sending me their complete biodata, as though I am not already familiar with them,” he said.“So please, do not send WhatsApp messages, call or knock on doors. Whatever has to happen will happen in the next two or three days,” Omar said.Omar was sworn in on Oct 16, 2024, along with five ministers, including deputy CM Surinder Choudhary. At present, three cabinet berths remain vacant. Under the norms, the strength of the council of ministers cannot exceed 10% of the total strength of the assembly. The J&K assembly has 90 members, capping the council of ministers at nine.Omar has allocated deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary the portfolios of public works, industries and commerce, mining, labour and skill development. Sakeena Itoo handles health and medical education, school education, higher education and social welfare. Javed Ahmed Rana oversees water resources, forests, environment and tribal affairs. Javid Ahmad Dar is tasked with agriculture, panchayati raj and cooperatives. Satish Sharma is responsible for food, consumer affairs, transport, science and IT, youth affairs, sports and training.Leader of Opposition and BJP's Sunil Sharma, who has been claiming that the NC will "implode" if Omar goes ahead with the cabinet expansion, said, “The CM is behaving like a king. Like a king, he doesn’t like people visiting his home. He wants only a close coterie around him, with everyone else reduced to reporting to them. He is out to demean his own MLAs and has repeatedly humiliated them inside and outside the Assembly,” he added.Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone sharply reacted to Omar’s statement, calling it “the cult of self”.“I watched CM sahib talking to the media after meeting LG sahib. What a contemptuous and disdainful way of asking his party MLAs to not pester him for a ministerial berth. I honestly can’t believe that these MLAs are comfortable with such belittling and humiliating remarks,” Lone said.“If you are unable to accommodate them in the cabinet, you can spare them from public humiliation,” he added.“Anyway, these are internal party matters and I should not have commented. But there is always a spillover. You may direct the derision at your own members, but it invariably belittles the political class. I wonder how these elected members face their electors when they know they are treated like unworthy and incapable schoolboys,” Lone added.Stay updated with the latest Srinagar news. Download the TOI App.