Srinagar, Oct 27: MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi on Tuesday said he was not unhappy with the decision of the party leadership to induct new faces into the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet, asserting that he would abide by the high command’s decision.
Reacting to the cabinet expansion, Dr Sajjad said the leadership had taken the decision in its own context and had tried its best to accommodate representatives from important regions of the Union Territory.
“I am not unhappy with the decision. It is the leadership’s decision, and whatever the leadership decides is better. We all know it is a Union Territory, and everyone cannot be accommodated,” he said.
He said there was no reason to be upset with anyone and stressed that elected representatives must focus on addressing public grievances rather than being concerned about ministerial positions.
“There is no question of getting upset with anyone. We have to work for the people and address their grievances, which is very important. The leadership would have taken the right decision, and we abide by the decision of the high command,” he said.
Dr Sajjad acknowledged that party workers had expectations but said the high command had to consider various factors while taking decisions on cabinet representation.
“Workers have their expectations, and the high command has to see things in its own context,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Sajjad’s exclusion from the Council of Ministers has disappointed sections of the population in Uri, where locals had expected him to be inducted into the Cabinet.
The disappointment stems from earlier expectations that he would be given a ministerial berth, with locals pointing to his electoral performance in the Assembly elections. Dr Sajjad secured nearly 40,000 votes and many in the constituency had hoped his victory would translate into representation in the government.
His exclusion has triggered disappointment among supporters who believe Uri deserved representation in the ministry. However, Dr Sajjad’s public response indicated that he intended to accept the leadership’s decision and continue focusing on the constituency’s issues.
