SRINAGAR: National Conference MLA Abdul Majeed Larvi on Tuesday questioned his exclusion from the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet expansion, saying he believed his name was among the leading contenders for a ministerial berth and that his seniority and loyalty to the party made him deserving of the position.
Speaking to reporters outside Lok Bhavan in Srinagar after the induction of four ministers into Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government, the Anantnag West legislator said he was unable to understand why he had not been selected.
“My name was at the top, but I don’t know why I wasn’t inducted,” Larvi said.
He also questioned the selection of Altaf Ahmad Kalloo, describing him as junior and pointing out that Kalloo had joined the National Conference after him.
“Altaf Kalloo was not deserving. He is junior to me and came to our party after me,” Larvi said, while maintaining that he considered himself deserving of a ministerial position.
Larvi said the decision had caused him personal disappointment despite his acceptance of the party leadership’s authority to select ministers.
“It was God’s decision and then it was our leadership’s decision. Our leadership understood it better, although I was deserving of a ministerial post. I was expecting that it would happen to me as well,” he said.
He said his seniority, honesty, loyalty and dedication to the National Conference were among the reasons he had expected to be included in the Cabinet.
“My heart hurts because I was a senior. Secondly, I was honest. Thirdly, I was loyal. Fourthly, I was dedicated. It is because of that my heart hurts. Because I am also a human being,” he said.
Despite his exclusion, Larvi said he would continue to work for the party.
“I am a soldier of the party. God willing, we will work for the party. Such situations keep coming up,” he said.
His remarks came after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shameema Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Kalloo at Lok Bhavan in Srinagar on Tuesday.
The expansion brought the Council of Ministers to its maximum permissible strength of nine members.
