Srinagar, October 27: Newly inducted Jammu and Kashmir ministers Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo on Tuesday visited the residence of senior National Conference leader and Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi in Srinagar amid reports of resentment over his exclusion from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cabinet expansion.
The ministers were accompanied by legislators representing Lolab and Sumbal-Sonawari, along with MLA Javed Beigh, as party leaders reportedly attempted to resolve the situation following Gurezi’s omission from the newly expanded Council of Ministers.
Gurezi, who had been considered a potential contender for a ministerial position, did not attend the swearing-in ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) earlier in the day.
According to sources familiar with the developments, discussions were underway at his Tulsi Bagh residence, where the visiting ministers and legislators were trying to persuade him to accept the party leadership’s decision.
Sources said Gurezi was reportedly unhappy about being left out of the cabinet despite expectations that he would be accommodated during the expansion.
“The ministers and MLAs are trying to convince him, but he has not agreed so far,” sources said.
Gurezi represents the Gurez constituency in Bandipora district and is a senior National Conference leader. His possible induction had attracted attention amid expectations of representation for the district in the Council of Ministers.
His absence from the swearing-in ceremony, followed by the visit of newly inducted ministers, has drawn attention to the reported differences within the party following the cabinet expansion.
Efforts to address the matter internally were continuing, although there was no immediate indication that Gurezi had changed his position.
Neither Gurezi nor the National Conference leadership had issued an official statement on the discussions at his residence at the time of reporting.
