The newly formed Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir has five cabinet ministers, including four from the National Conference (NC) and one independent MLA. Notably, the Congress party, which was in alliance with the NC during the elections, opted not to take any ministerial positions.
Key Ministers in the Cabinet:
Sakina Itoo:
- Constituency: DH Pora, South Kashmir, Kulgam district
- Role: Senior National Conference leader and the only woman in the cabinet
- Past Experience: Has held several ministerial portfolios, including social welfare, education, and tourism. She became the youngest MLA in 1996 at the age of 26.
Surinder Choudhary:
- Constituency: Nowshera, Jammu region
- Role: Deputy Minister
- Political Journey: Formerly with PDP and BJP before joining the National Conference in 2023.
Javed Rana:
- Constituency: Mendhar, Poonch district (Reserved for Scheduled Tribes)
- Role: Senior leader with experience in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
Satish Sharma:
- Constituency: Chammb, Jammu region
- Role: Independent MLA, defeated the BJP candidate and extended support to the NC-Congress alliance.
Javed Ahmed Dar:
- Constituency: Rafiabad, North Kashmir
- Role: Experienced NC member, previously served as a minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government during the NC-Congress coalition.
This diverse cabinet represents all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, with Omar Abdullah serving as the chief minister.
