Why J&K’s Ministers Resigned Before the Cabinet Reshuffle, and What Happens Next

What happened

On 26 October, all five ministers in the National Conference (NC)-led government handed their resignations to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He can now keep them or forward the resignations to Lok Bhavan. The swearing-in is on Tuesday, 27 October, at 10:30 am at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar, where Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha will administer the oath. It is the first cabinet expansion since the government was formed in October 2024.

Why did they resign?

It sounds dramatic, but a mass resignation before a reshuffle is a routine political tool, not a sign of crisis. It gives the Chief Minister a clean slate to build a fresh team with party president Farooq Abdullah. He can forward only the resignations of ministers he wants to drop and retain the rest.

The background

• The Omar Abdullah ministry was formed on 16 October 2024, with Surinder Kumar Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister.
• The cabinet began with six members against a permitted maximum of nine.
• Congress, an ally, has stayed out of the cabinet and says it will not join until statehood is restored. Its state president reportedly said the party was not informed about the reshuffle.
• Within the NC, lobbying for berths was intense. Omar reportedly asked colleagues on Saturday to stop approaching him. Regional representation, seniority and accommodating legislators were the key questions.

Who may be in and out

This is based on sources, not official confirmation. The Kashmir Observer reports that four legislators have been finalised: Ali Mohammad Sagar, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, Shameema Firdous and Mir Saifullah. It also says Satish Sharma is likely to be dropped. Other outlets report different numbers, and some ministers may lose departments.

What does the law say?

The Constitution's state-government articles do not apply here. J&K is a Union Territory with a legislature, so it is governed by the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.

• Section 53: The Council of Ministers can have at most ten per cent of the Assembly's strength. With 90 seats, that is nine members including the CM. The LG keeps discretion on matters outside the Assembly's powers, including police, public order, All India Services and the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
• Section 54: Ministers hold office during the LG's pleasure and are collectively responsible to the Assembly.
• Section 55: The LG makes the business rules. If the LG and a minister differ and no agreement is reached within a month, the LG's decision is deemed accepted.

There is no step-by-step rulebook for a mass resignation. It works by parliamentary convention: ministers hand their resignations to the CM, and he decides what goes to the LG.

Is this linked to the Darbar Move?

No. A reshuffle and the Darbar Move are separate things, and none of the reports I found link the two. The Darbar Move runs on a fixed calendar, while a reshuffle depends on politics. The overlap is only practical. Offices close in Srinagar on 30 and 31 October, so the new ministers will have only a few days in Srinagar before the government shifts to Jammu. Portfolio allocation will likely happen around the move.

The Darbar Move explained

The Darbar Move is the twice-yearly shifting of the Civil Secretariat and other key offices between Srinagar, the summer capital, and Jammu, the winter capital.

• History: It began in 1872 under Maharaja Ranbir Singh to escape extreme weather. The LG administration abolished it on 30 June 2021. The NC revived it in October 2025, citing its manifesto promise.
• 2026 move (Order No. 1664-JK(GAD) of 2026, dated 19 October): Five-day-week offices close in Srinagar on Friday, 30 October, and six-day-week offices on Saturday, 31 October. All reopen in Jammu on Monday, 2 November.
• How offices move: Offices move "in full" or "in camp." Camp offices carry only 33% of their staff or 10 officials, whichever is less.
• Allowance: A Special Move allowance of Rs 25,000 is paid per employee. October salaries for move offices are drawn on 29 October. Employees who do not move by the prescribed date do not get it.
• Winter Secretariat: One is kept in Srinagar, with one gazetted and four non-gazetted staff from each department.
• Security: J&K Police escort the convoys and ensure precedence at the Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel.

What could happen next

This section is analysis, not reporting.

• A more settled team: Filling all nine berths gives the government full strength. Commentators call it a "perform or perish" test for the new faces.
• Friction inside the NC: Not everyone who lobbied will get a berth, and ministers who lose departments may be unsettled.
• The Congress question: Staying out of the cabinet does not mean it has withdrawn support, but it shows the alliance is under strain over statehood.
• Statehood: The Supreme Court upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in December 2023 and directed that statehood be restored. The Centre says it will happen at an "appropriate time." Omar argues the timeline has stretched far beyond the early restoration promised. Until then, the elected cabinet works within the limits of the 2019 Act.

Quick facts for exam aspirants

• J&K's Council of Ministers is governed by Section 53 of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• It is capped at 10% of the Assembly's strength: nine, including the CM.
• The LG administers the oath, and ministers hold office during the LG's pleasure.
• The Darbar Move began in 1872, was abolished on 30 June 2021 and revived in October 2025.
• 2026 winter move: offices close in Srinagar on 30 and 31 October and reopen in Jammu on 2 November.