BJP leader Kavinder Gupta was sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday. Gupta replaced Nirmal Singh who resigned on Sunday evening saying “a fresh face from the BJP will be taking over.” Governor N N Vohra also administered the oath of office and secrecy to BJP ministers Sat Sharma, D K Manyal, Sunil Sharma. Rajiv Jasrotia and Shakti Parihar from the saffron party were also elevated to the cabinet rank. PDP’s Mohd Ashraf Mir and Mohammad Khalil Band were also inducted into the cabinet.
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The swearing-in ceremony was held at the convention centre instead of Raj Bhavan as the government has already shut down its offices in Jammu and shifted its base to summer capital Srinagar.
The BJP’s decision to revamp the ministerial team comes amidst adverse reports by local RSS and BJP leaders that, in Jammu, the party is seen to have completely surrendered to the PDP, which is strong in Kashmir. The party has also faced backlash after its two ministers took part in a rally in support of those accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua. Late on Sunday evening, Nirmal Singh announced his resignation, paving the way for Speaker Kavinder Gupta to take the position.
Read | Deputy CM Nirmal Singh who backed Mebooba Mufti on Kathua case is out Read less
Late on Sunday evening, Nirmal Singh announced he was resigning as Deputy CM, saying “a fresh face from the BJP will be taking over”. Speaker Kavinder Gupta, who replaces Singh, is a first-time MLA but an old BJP and RSS hand. He has served as Jammu mayor for three terms, between 2005 and 2010.
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BJP's General Secreatry Ram Madhav on Monday denied any links between the reshuffle and the Kathua rape case. "The cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with the Kathua incident. Our government has completed three years and we decided to give a chance to new faces. 5 members of the party will be sworn-in as ministers today," he said, reported ANI
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"Cabinet reshuffle takes place depending on circumstances of the past and present and also taking cognizance of the challenges that lie ahead in the future. This is a very normal thing in any democratic setup," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on the new faces being sworn-in into the J-K govt.
The BJP was under fire after two of its ministers were seen in a rally in support of those accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua. It has also been facing a backlash in Jammu over the state government stalling the demand for a CBI inquiry into case, and over the failure to meet the demand for districts in Nowshera and Akhnoor.
The BJP decision to revamp the ministerial team comes amidst adverse reports by local RSS and BJP leaders that, in Jammu, the party is seen to have completely surrendered to the PDP, which is strong in Kashmir. There were complaints that party ministers had failed to safeguard “the interests of the Jammu region”, from where the BJP got 25 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections, its highest tally ever, taking it to power in the state.
Sources said Gupta’s name as Deputy CM was finalised at a meeting chaired by BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi, which was attended among others by party general secretary and J&K in-charge Ram Madhav, MP and also state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna, Nirmal Singh and Sat Sharma. Gupta left for Delhi on Sunday morning.
An official spokesman said that state Chief Secretary B B Vyas chaired a meeting at the convention centre on Sunday to finalise the arrangements for the oath-taking ceremony. He also inspected the premises and directed the security agencies to ensure foolproof security in and around the venue. Arrangements related to seating capacity, security, traffic regulation, public address system, sanitation, decoration, power supply and drinking water supply were discussed, the spokesman said, reported PTI
Kavinder Gupta will be sworn-in as the Deputy CM. BJP state president and Jammu West MLA Sat Sharma and D K Manyal (Samba MLA) will also be inducted. Sunil Sharma, who held the Minister of State for Transport (independent charge) portfolio, would be elevated to Cabinet rank. The two new ministers would be Rajiv Jasrotia (Kathua MLA), who will get Cabinet rank, and Shakti Parihar (Doda MLA), as MoS, sources said.
The PDP will also induct Mohd Ashraf Mir and Mohammad Khalil Band, both with Cabinet rank.
Speaker Kavinder Gupta who has been named as the Deputy CM, following the resignation of Nirmal Singh said, "Party gave me the responsibility to bring in change after three yrs. I'll try my best to meet expectations of people and work for Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh. We had entered into an alliance, following people's mandate. I hope it keeps working for them."
Announcing his resignation on Sunday, Nirmal Singh said, "a fresh face from the BJP will be taking over." "It was the decision of the party to change roles. Keeping in line with that decision I stepped down. The govt has worked well for three years. I am sure they will perform very well," he added, reported ANI
Welcome to the live blog. After BJP ministers tendered their resignation in Jammu and Kashmir, new ministers will be inducted in the cabinet today. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 12 noon today. Follow this space to track latest developments