SRINAGAR: The National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to go for an expansion-cum-reshuffle in the council of ministers for the time being, sources said.

According to sources, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will not immediately effect any expansion in his cabinet.

“There are no chances of cabinet expansion this month. The exercise will not be taken up given that the autumn session of the J&K Assembly is now just 10 days away,” sources revealed.

The upcoming autumn session of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 21 and will conclude on September 30.

Sources indicated that there is now a strong possibility that the expansion in the council of ministers could take place around the second anniversary of the NC-led government. The administration completes two years in office on October 16.

It was previously widely expected that Omar Abdullah would effect a reshuffle-cum-expansion immediately after August 15. The Chief Minister is also understood to have approached the Congress high command to ascertain whether they would avail a ministry berth. The Congress leadership subsequently discussed the offer of the NC-led government with its J&K-based leaders.

Currently, the strength of the council of ministers in Jammu and Kashmir stands at six. The administration has scope to induct three more ministers, as the J&K Reorganisation Act restricts the overall strength of the council of ministers to one-tenth of the total strength of MLAs.