From correspondents in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, 07:30 PM IST

The 10-member council of ministers in Jammu and Kashmir will be expanded in the second week of June, official sources said Saturday.

The sources said that the cabinet expansion will take place after the June 3 assembly by-election at Hazratbal constituency in Srinagar.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is now evaluating the performance of the National Conference and has been pleased with the performance of some of the legislators in ensuring party's victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, party sources said.

The party won all the three seats in the valley while ruling partner Congress won two from Jammu and lost Ladakh constituency to an independent who later extended support to the combine at the centre.

Abdullah, according to the sources, has decided on the legislators to be inducted into the council of ministers.

Hazratbal constituency, which fell vacant after National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah resigned from the state assembly, is going to the polls June 3 and results would be declared June 5.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)