J-K Deputy CM Nirmal Singh quits ahead of cabinet reshuffle

New Delhi : Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh resigned from his post on Sunday evening.

The resignation comes hours before PDP-BJP coalition government is all set for a major rejig. New faces are likely to be inducted, especially from the BJP, following the ouster of two BJP ministers — forest minister Lal Singh and commerce and industries minister Chandra Prakash Ganga — after the controversy over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old Bakarwal girl over three months ago.

Nirmal Singh confirmed his resignation report to the Times of India. "Yes, I have filed my papers to enable the new BJP leader to take over as deputy CM. Speaker Kavinder Gupta is likely to be the new deputy CM of J&K," he said.

As per speculations, Nirmal Singh is likely to become a new Speaker of the state legislative assembly.

The oath-taking ceremony for the new ministers has been scheduled for noon on Monday at the Jammu Convention Centre.

All BJP ministers in the government resigned last week to pave way for a reshuffle of party ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led government.