J&K Cabinet Reshuffle Sparks Debate: Only One Hindu Minister, No Representation for Jammu Region

Eight of Jammu's 10 districts are without a minister in the latest reshuffle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's cabinet, roiling the already frosty relations between the state and the division. The council now comprises of nine members, of which seven are from Kashmir Valley, and two from Jammu division (including two from Pir Panjal region).

The reshuffle has also seen the number of Hindu ministers fall from two to one. Independent MLA Satish Sharma from Chhamb was dropped and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary of Nowshera in Rajouri district is the sole Hindu minister.

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For the first time since 1953, there is no minister in eight districts of Jammu, reports the report. The districts which are not represented are Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar and Reasi. The entire Chenab Valley which includes Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar is also unrepresented.

There was a possibility of several leaders who could have served as balances on the region and religion. The NC-supported Pyare Lal Sharma of Inderwal in Kishtwar would have been the voice for the Chenab Valley. Independent MLA Rameshwar Singh (Bani) could have provided Kathua with a minister. Another possibility was NC MLA Arjun Singh Raju hailing from Ramban who could represent the Hindu community as well as the Chenab region.

The district of Jammu, where there are 11 Assembly constituencies, has also been excluded, and in Srinagar district, two ministers are serving. This isn't a matter of one MLA," said a retired professor from Jammu University. This is about the sentiment of Dogras. With 11 MLAs from Jammu district, how can you ignore all of them?

The report calls the decision "unprecedented in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir. Ministers from Jammu district had been part of the cabinet of the previous governments headed by Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, Sheikh Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Omar Abdullah. Satish Sharma was even a part of Prime Minister Omar Abdullah's first cabinet in October 2024.

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The reshuffle has provided the BJP with political opportunities. It proved the National Conference was Kashmir centric and did not believe in Jammu, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said. A number of NC leaders from Pir Panjal area are also reportedly unhappy and Ministerial posts have been denied to senior NC leaders, Mubarak Gul, Nazir Gurezi and Abdul Majeed Larmi.

If the government does not redress this imbalance by appointments to boards, corporations and advisory positions or future cabinet appointments, political observers warn, then the government can expect more resentment in Jammu. The grievance might impact on upcoming district development council, panchayat and urban local body elections.

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