Srinagar, April 30: A total of seven new ministers were inducted into the Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu & Kashmir government on Monday. Among the new faces, also include Rajiv Jasrotia, the BJP MLA from Kathua. Notably, the local BJP workers had rallied in support of the accused arrested in connection to the gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old nomadic girl in Kathua.

Among other legislators from the BJP inducted into the Ministry include the MLAs from Sambha and Doda - Devinder Kumar Manyal and Shakti Raj, respectively.

The party's state unit chief Satpal Sharma has also been inducted into the Ministry. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Sunil Sharma, who held the MoS, Transport charge, has been elevated to the Cabinet rank.

In a major change, Deputy CM and veteran BJP leader Nirmal Singh was replaced by the incumbent Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta.

From PDP, the two new faces inducted into the government are Mohd. Khalil Band, MLA from Pulwama, and Mohd. Ashraf Mir, MLA from Sonwar.

Full List of New Ministers in the J&K Government:

- Kavinder Gupta, BJP, elevated as Deputy CM.

- Devinder Kumar Manyal , BJP, elevated to Cabinet rank.

- Shakti Raj, BJP, sworn-in as Minister of State.

- Satpal Sharma, BJP, appointed as Cabinet Minister.

- Rajiv Jasrotia, BJP, sworn-in as Cabinet Minister.

- PDP MLAs Mohd. Khalil Band and Mohd. Ashraf Mir have also been included in the Cabinet.

Jitendra Singh, MoS, PMO and BJP general secretary Ram Madhav were deployed by the party high command to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Srinagar earlier in the day.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the cabinet reshuffle exercise was not linked to any particular event. "The old team had performed well. Now a new team has been inducted. The new team has young and educated people and I hope they will work better," the J&K CM said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2018 06:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).