Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Oct 27 (KINS): Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday administered the oath of office to four new ministers in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government at Lok Bhawan, Srinagar. The newly inducted ministers are Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo.
The four leaders bring years of political and legislative experience to the Council of Ministers.
Ali Mohammad Sagar is a senior National Conference leader and represents the Khanyar Assembly constituency in Srinagar. He has won Assembly elections from the constituency in 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2024.
He has previously served as a minister, including handling the Rural Development portfolio, and has been the party’s general secretary since 2014. His long political career makes him one of the senior figures in the party.
Shamima Firdous represents the Habbakadal constituency in Srinagar and is a senior National Conference leader. She first became an MLA in 2008 and returned to the Assembly in 2014 and 2024.
She serves as president of the party’s women’s wing. She also previously chaired the State Commission for Women in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.
Mir Saifullah represents the Trehgam Assembly constituency in Kupwara district. A lawyer by profession.
He has previously served as a minister and returned to the Legislative Assembly in the 2024 elections on a National Conference ticket.
Altaf Ahmad Wani, popularly known as Altaf Kaloo, represents the Pahalgam constituency in Anantnag district. He entered electoral politics in 2008 and later became a member of the Legislative Council in 2009. He won the Pahalgam Assembly seat in 2014 and returned to the Assembly in 2024.
With the induction of the four legislators, the government has expanded its Council of Ministers. Their respective portfolios will determine the departments and responsibilities they will handle in the administration.(KINS)
