Cabinet expansion, under consideration most likely can go for it after bypoll: CM Omar

Srinagar|Oct,18 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the cabinet expansion would take place once bye-elections are held in Jammu and Kashmir that the candidate for Budgam bypoll would be announced within the next 48 hours.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar over completion of one year in office, the Chief Minister said that all promises done with the people will be fulfilled in five years of tenure. “There are some hurdles in our way, but all our promises to the people mentioned in the manifesto will be fulfilled in five years,” he said while replying to a query on 12 gas cylinders and increase in ration quota as promised ahead of 2024 Assembly polls.
The Chief Minister also reacted to the issue of smart meters installation, stating that the party never promised of doing away with the smart meters in its manifesto. “We had promised 200 free units to the people, which can only be possible when the smart meters are installed. If smart meters are not installed then promises can’t be fulfilled as there would be no process to gauge the load of consumers,” he said.

He said that the government has been trying to ensure the people would have better supply and reduction in the power bills and this has been possible only after the smart meter installation. “The department tried to ensure better supply during winters and in recent floods as well, the electricity supply was restored. I want to ensure better supply to people, infrastructure to fulfill our promises,” he added.

CM Omar also said that as far as poor consumers are concerned, proper assessment of the load has resulted in reduction in their electricity bills. “We want to ensure free units to the poor, reduction in bills and better supply to the consumers,” he said.

On statehood, the Chief Minister said that the centre never promised of its restoration only after the BJP comes into power. “We will have to hope for it. But, it is a fact that the statehood has been connected with Pahalgam, which is injustice with the people. The elected government was not responsible for it and the people also didn’t support the attack. Even those involved in the attack and later killed by the security forces were not from J&K. If we connect statehood to Pahalgam then it is injustice to the people.”

We have been promised in the Parliament and Supreme Court that first delimitation, then election and later statehood will be restored. Two promises have been kept so far while the third is still pending. We hope it will be kept also and the government will be empowered,” he said.

“BJP should be honest in making the promises. It never stated that statehood will be granted only when they come to power. But, linking it with BJP and alliance with them is out of question. We have been suffering the aftereffects of the unnecessary alliance between BJP and PDP. Therefore, we won’t repeat the mistake that others have made in the past,” he said.

On cabinet expansion, the Chief Minister said that it is a fact that constraints of being a Union Territory and artificially low number of ministers that were allowed to induct have its barring in terms of areas and communities that can find representations within the government. “But, this belief that unless you are a minister you can’t work for an area is incorrect. I am not the Chief Minister of Ganderbal, Sakeena is not the minister for Noorbabad but of the entire J&K.” He further said that there is still the possibility to have a few more ministers. “It is something I am actively considering. Once bye-elections are held, we will see what happens,” he said