Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s new cabinet features a dynamic team of leaders ready to drive progress in the region. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, alongside cabinet ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar, and Satish Sharma, brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives. Together, they are committed to addressing key issues in education, health, rural development, and civil supplies, shaping a brighter future for the Union Territory.
Surinder Kumar Choudhary: Surinder Kumar Choudhary is Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir since October 16, 2024. He has been a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly since October 8, 2024, representing the Nowshera assembly constituency as a member of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. Prior to his political career, Choudhary was employed at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in Jammu. He first contested an assembly election in 2009 from Nowshera. In the 2014 elections, he represented the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nowshera constituency but lost to Ravinder Raina of the BJP by a margin of 10,000 votes. Chowdhary, 56, was born in Marha, Jammu. His father is Dayal Chand. Chowdhary completed his education up to the eighth grade, attending Government High School in Ghajansoo, where he finished his studies in 1999. In April 2022, Choudhary resigned from the PDP, where he served as General Secretary, and joined the BJP. He cited the “people’s love and affection” for the delimitation process under the BJP government, which split Nowshera and Sunderbani into distinct assembly constituencies. However, he left the BJP in July 2023, accusing Raina of “promoting family” and engaging in “corruption,” subsequently joining the National Conference. In the 2024 Assembly elections, Choudhary contested again from Nowshera as a National Conference candidate, polling a total of 35,069 votes and defeating Ravinder Raina by a margin of 7,819 votes. On October 16, 2024, Choudhary was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during a ceremony at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), presided over by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. On October 18, 2024, Lieutenant Governor Sinha issued an order to allocate portfolios to the council of ministers based on the Chief Minister’s advice, assigning Choudhary the responsibilities of Public Works (R&B), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development.
Sakina Itoo: Sakina Itoo is currently serving as the cabinet minister for Education, Health & Medical Education, and Social Welfare in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. She has previously held cabinet minister positions in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and has managed several departments, including Social Welfare, Training and Public Grievances, Education, Tourism, Floriculture, Public Works, and PHE, among others. Sakina is one of the youngest members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, winning her first assembly election at the age of 26 in 1996. In 2012, she received the “Best MLA Award” for her contributions to her constituency. She was born to Wali Mohammad Itoo, a former Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, on December 5, 1970, in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Sakina completed her intermediate education from the Jammu and Kashmir State Board of School Education in 1991. Itoo began pursuing her MBBS degree but left midway due to her father’s assassination in 1994, subsequently entering politics. Throughout her political career, Itoo has served in various ministerial roles, including Deputy Minister for Education in 1996 and State Minister for Social Welfare and Public Works. She later became the Minister of Tourism, serving until 2002. In 2002, she lost her bid for re-election in the assembly constituency but was nominated as a member of the Legislative Council by her party in 2004. In the 2024 assembly elections, Itoo won the Damhal Hanjipora constituency, defeating Gulzar Ahmad Dar of the PDP by a margin of 17,449 votes. On October 16, 2024, she was sworn in as a minister in the second cabinet of Omar Abdullah. Following an order from Lieutenant Governor Sinha on October 18, 2024, to allocate portfolios to the council of ministers at the Chief Minister’s advice, Itoo was given responsibility for Health and Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, and Social Welfare.
Javed Ahmed Rana: Rana a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly representing the Mendhar Assembly constituency and currently serves as a cabinet minister in the government of Jammu and Kashmir. Hailing from Kalaban village in the Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. He is the son of Babu Faiz Ahmed. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and earned a Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) degree in 1989 from the University of Jammu. Rana was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the 2002 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, representing the Mendhar constituency on a Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) ticket. In the 2014 elections, he successfully retained his seat, polling 31,186 votes and defeating his nearest rival, Mohd Mahroof Khan of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), by a margin of 9,025 votes. In the 2024 Assembly elections, Rana was once again nominated by the JKNC to contest from Mendhar, winning with a margin of 14,906 votes. On October 16, 2024, he took the oath of office as a cabinet minister in the government of Jammu and Kashmir. Following an order issued by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on October 18, 2024, to allocate portfolios to the council of ministers based on the Chief Minister’s advice, Rana was assigned the responsibilities for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs.
Javid Ahmad Dar: Dar is currently serving as a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly since 2024, representing the Rafiabad Assembly constituency as a member of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. On October 16, 2024, Dar was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the newly formed Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Following an order issued by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on October 18, 2024, to allocate portfolios to the council of ministers based on the Chief Minister’s advice, Dar was assigned responsibilities for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative, and Election. Born in Ladoora, a village in the Rafiabad tehsil of Baramulla district. Growing up in a close-knit community, he was deeply influenced by the socio-political challenges faced by the people in the area. His upbringing instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility and connection to grassroots issues. Dar is known for maintaining close ties with his constituents, often engaging with local communities to address their concerns personally. A seasoned politician, Javid Ahmad Dar embarked on his political journey shortly after completing his graduation in commerce. After passing his Class 12 examination, he moved to Pune to pursue higher education at Pune University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Commerce in 1997. The following year, he enrolled in a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) program; however, he had to return home after two semesters due to the sudden passing of his father in 1998. Despite this interruption in his formal education, Dar has maintained a deep love for books and literature, which has shaped his thoughtful approach to leadership and public service. Dar’s political career began in 2002 following the passing of his father, Muhammad Yousuf Dar, a veteran politician and close associate of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. Initially joining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he contested his first assembly election that same year but was not elected. After spending six years with the PDP, Dar made a strategic shift to the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) in 2008. With the support of Farooq Abdullah, he contested and won the Rafiabad assembly seat, defeating his PDP opponent, Dilawar Mir. Following this victory, Dar was appointed Minister of State, overseeing the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department. Although he lost his seat in the 2014 elections amid a strong PDP wave, he made a remarkable comeback in 2024, securing the Rafiabad constituency with a significant margin of 9,202 votes. His return to the assembly was marked by his swearing-in as a cabinet minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative, and Election at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Satish Sharma: Satish Sharma is currently serving as a cabinet minister in the Jammu and Kashmir government. He is a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, having won the 2024 assembly election from the Chhamb constituency as an independent candidate. Following his victory, he extended his support to Omar Abdullah and his National Conference party. Sharma comes from a political background as the son of the late senior Congress leader, Madan Lal Sharma. He earned his LL.B from Dogra Law College and completed his MBA at the University of Wales in 2008. His political career began with an unsuccessful bid for the Bhalwal Brahmana constituency during the 2020 District Development Council elections as an independent candidate. In the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election, Sharma contested from the Chhamb Assembly constituency, winning by a margin of 6,929 votes against Rajeev Sharma of the BJP and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand of the Congress. He was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir government on October 16, 2024. On October 18, 2024, following an order from Lieutenant Governor Sinha to allocate portfolios based on the Chief Minister’s advice, Sharma was assigned responsibilities for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, as well as ARI and Trainings.
