2 min readSrinagarUpdated: Oct 27, 2026 12:36 PM IST(From left to right) Altaf Ahmad Wani, also known as Kalloo, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous and Ali Mohammad Sagar. (Source: FB)Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has inducted four new ministers in his cabinet while dropping an Independent legislator, Satish Sharma.The oath ceremony of the newly inducted ministers took place at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar where Lt Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office to the council of ministers.The new inductees include three National Conference veterans — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shameem Firdous and Mir Saifullah. While Sagar and Saifullah have been ministers in the Omar Abdullah cabinet from 2008 to 2014, Firdous was Chairperson of the J-K State Commission for Women with a status of Minister of State (MoS).#WATCH | Srinagar | Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administers the oath of office to newly inducted ministers as CM Omar Abdullah expands his CabinetMir Saifullah, MLA Trehgam Kupwara, Ali Mohammad Sagar ,MLA Khanyar Srinagar, Shameem Firdous, MLA Habba Kadal Srinagar and Altaf Ahmad Wan, MLA Pahalgam inducted as ministers— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026The fourth inductee is Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, who represents south Kahsmir’s Pahalgam constituency.Chief Minister Omar has dropped independent legislator Satish Sharma from the cabinet. Sharma was the only minister from the mainland Jammu comprising four districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua that overwhelmingly voted for the BJP in 2024 elections. With Sharma dropped, mainland Jammu now has no representation in the cabinet.Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More