Party leaders say it wants to bring in new faces in the cabinet and the reshuffle is likely to take place around 20 April.
Jammu: The BJP Tuesday asked all its nine ministers in Jammu and Kashmir to submit their resignations, to enable the party to bring in new faces in the two-year-old Mehbooba Mufti cabinet, said party leaders.
The BJP has been under pressure ever since two of its ministers – Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga – took part in a rally in support of those accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua. The two ministers subsequently resigned.
BJP leaders said the party wanted to bring in new faces in the cabinet and work for the people of the state.
The state can have a maximum of 25 ministers, including the chief minister, out of which 14 portfolios are with the PDP and the remaining with the BJP.
According to top state government sources, the reshuffle is likely to take place on 20 April.
The decision follows hectic parleys between senior BJP leader Avinash Khanna and party legislators, sources said.
It will be in everyone’s interest to strengthen CM Mehbooba Mufti’s hands, give her more freedom to pursue an agenda of development and reconciliation. Within the alliance and for issues that fall within the purview of the state government, she must be treated as the boss.