Omar Abdullah: Congress Still Part of Our Coalition, No Exclusion from Cabinet

Omar Abdullah: Congress Still Part of Our Coalition, No Exclusion from Cabinet

Omar Abdullah said he won’t be filling all nine vacancies in his cabinet as talks with Congress are currently ongoing.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister designate Omar Abdullah dismissed reports that Congress won’t be part of the cabinet, and said that talks are ongoing between the former and the National Conference.

His remark comes amid reports that discussions are ongoing within the Congress about whether the party would support the National Conference as part of the government or from outside as an ally. “I will not be filling all 9 vacancies in the council of ministers. Some vacancies will be kept open as we are in talks with Congress,” he said.

Omar Abdullah, who will take oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at 11.30 am on Wednesday, also dismissed reports of any friction between the two parties. “Everything is well between NC and Congress. Otherwise, Kharge ji, Rahul, and senior Congress leaders would not be coming here. Their presence is indicative of the fact that the alliance is strong, and we will work for the people,” he said.

The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Priyanka Gandhi are scheduled to attend the ceremony today.

His remark comes after Congress leader Bharat Singh Solanki claimed that no Congress MLA would take oath as a minister when Omar Abdullah takes oath as the Chief Minister on Wednesday.

Solanki stated that talks between the two parties are underway and a result would be announced soon. He also reaffirmed that Congress continues to be a part of the alliance and would support the National Conference be it from the outside as an ally or as a part of the coalition government.

There was reportedly an understanding between the two parties that Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra would take oath as minister if the party joins the National Conference to form a coalition government.

Congress and the National Conference fought the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections together. The former won six seats while NC emerged as the single largest party after winning 42 seats.

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