Former separatist Sajad Lone likely to be in J-K cabinet

A few years ago, he was the face of separatists on all national news channels, now, Sajad Lone might be a minister in Jammu and Kashmir state cabinet if the tie-up between the BJP and PDP materialises.

A few years ago, he was the face of separatists on all national news channels, now, Sajad Lone might be a minister in Jammu and Kashmir state cabinet if the tie-up between the BJP and PDP materialises.

BJP sources said say Lone was going to be part of the cabinet as BJP had insisted on his inclusion along with five more ministers from the BJP side. The other names from BJP include Nirmal Singh - who is likely to be deputy chief minister with education portfolio.

At PDP’s end, the names doing the rounds were of their chief negotiator with BJP, Haseeb Drabu, spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar and senior leader Altaf Bhukhari.

While the two parties were engaged in giving final touches to the alliance agenda, the BJP was likely to have another Muslim name in their list of ministers -- Abdul Gani Kohli. Other names doing the rounds were Bali Bhagat, Chowdhary Lal Singh, Sham Choudhary, Kavinder Gupta and Sunil Sharma.

While reports had suggested an unwritten alliance between BJP and People's Conference leader Sajjad Gani Lone even before the elections, indications were clear when Lone met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last November.

While talking to HT before the results, Lone insisted that he had not “forgotten the aspirations of his people but would like to concentrate on development for time being.”