Srinagar, Oct 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is likely to meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday to discuss key issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, including the long-awaited expansion of the Council of Ministers, highly placed sources said.

“Several important matters, including cabinet expansion, are expected to come up for discussion,” sources said.
The meeting comes amid growing political speculation over the expansion of the Omar Abdullah-led ministry, which has been pending for several months.
The cabinet expansion could take place within three to four days after the Chief Minister’s meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, subject to necessary consultations and formalities, sources said.
The National Conference leadership has repeatedly indicated that the expansion would be undertaken, but no formal announcement has been made regarding its timing or the names of prospective ministers.
Omar Abdullah had earlier indicated that the exercise would follow consultations with NC president Farooq Abdullah. Farooq had also suggested that the expansion would take place after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha returned to the Valley.
Jammu and Kashmir currently has six ministers, including the Chief Minister, against the maximum permissible strength of nine under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, leaving three ministerial berths vacant.
The Congress, which supports the National Conference-led government from outside, has maintained that it will not join the ministry until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is restored.