Omar expands ministry, inducts 13 new ministers

The Omar Abdullah-led National Conference-Congress coalition ministry was today expanded with the induction of 13 members, majority of them from Congress. Seven of the ministers inducted are from Congress and six belong to NC in the first expansion of the ministry since Omar assumed power six months ago.
    
Those administered oath of office by Governor NN Vohra on the banks of Dal Lake were eight cabinet ministers--four each from Congress and NC--and five ministers of state. Two ministers of state taken in with independent charge are Aijaz Ahmad Khan and Monhar Lal Sharma (both Congress) and three ministers of state Shabir Ahmad Khan of Congress, Naser Aslam Wani and Javid Ahmad Dar (both NC).