Srinagar, October 27: National Conference leaders Mubarak Gul and Abdul Majeed Larvi on Tuesday expressed disappointment after being left out of the cabinet expansion in the Omar Abdullah-led government. While Gul said he had been dropped from ministerial consideration repeatedly, Larvi claimed he was on the list of probable ministers until Monday evening, but reaffirmed his loyalty to the party despite feeling hurt.
The National Conference’s cabinet reshuffle has triggered expressions of disappointment from senior party leaders Mubarak Gul and Abdul Majeed Larvi, who were not inducted into the council of ministers despite expectations surrounding the expansion.
Speaking to reporters outside Lok Bhawan in Srinagar after the swearing-in ceremony, Gul voiced his displeasure over being excluded, referring to his experience of attending several oath-taking ceremonies without being inducted as a minister.
“I have attended 30 oath-taking ceremonies till now. Every time I was dropped, and today as well, I am being dropped,” Gul said, expressing frustration over the party’s decision.
Abdul Majeed Larvi, the National Conference MLA from Anantnag West, also expressed disappointment over missing out on a ministerial berth. He said he had been among the probable candidates until Monday evening and believed he deserved a place in the cabinet.
“My heart is broken,” Larvi told reporters after the ceremony, describing his exclusion as personally painful.“I was deserving. I say it twice, I was deserving,” he said, while maintaining that he respected the party leadership’s decision.
Acknowledging the emotional impact of being left out, Larvi said, “We are human beings; we have a heart too. Our heart is sad, there is no doubt about that. I may speak to you like this, but my heart is burning from inside.”
Despite his disappointment, Larvi reaffirmed his commitment to the National Conference, describing himself as a loyal party worker ready to serve the organisation.“I am a soldier of the party. I can go anywhere for the party,” he said.
Their remarks came after four legislators Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamima Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo were inducted into the Omar Abdullah-led government during a swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhawan on Tuesday. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly inducted ministers.
The cabinet expansion marked a significant change in the composition of the council of ministers, while the exclusion of Gul and Larvi brought attention to the expectations and disappointment among party leaders over the distribution of ministerial positions.
While both leaders publicly conveyed their disappointment, Larvi explicitly reiterated his loyalty to the party leadership. The developments have placed the spotlight on how the National Conference manages expectations within its ranks following the cabinet reshuffle.
With input News agencies
