Congress Declines Joining New Jammu and Kashmir Government Ministry

The party stands firm on withholding cabinet participation until full statehood is restored.

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress party formally declined an invitation from the National Conference to join the newly formed Omar Abdullah government ministry. J&K Congress President Tariq Hamid Karra announced the decision, framing it as a principled stand against the prolonged reduction of the region's constitutional status. The political committee stated that the party will not accept ministerial portfolios until the central government fully restores complete statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. While the Congress party clarified it will continue to support the ruling coalition externally to ensure legislative stability, its refusal to take cabinet seats highlights internal friction regarding how to navigate governance under the current Union Territory framework.