Srinagar, Oct 24 (HS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday morning called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar, amid renewed speculation over the long-pending expansion of his Council of Ministers.

Sources said the meeting was likely to centre on the expansion. They added that the chief minister was also expected to enquire after the LG’s health, as Sinha recently returned from Delhi. There was no official word on the agenda.

The meeting assumes significance because National Conference president Farooq Abdullah had linked the expansion to the LG’s return. Speaking to reporters in Budgam on October 19, he said the LG had been unwell and away from the Valley, and that the exercise would follow his return. He said the expansion had not taken place because the LG was unwell, and that “there will be an expansion of the government” once Sinha was back.

Omar had said on October 7 that the exercise would be taken up after the GST Council meeting in Delhi and consultations with Farooq Abdullah. The NC-led government completed two years in office on October 16 without expanding the Council of Ministers.

More details are awaited.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat