Srinagar, Oct. 29 -- The induction of four new ministers into the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on Tuesday triggered widespread discontent and protests within the ruling National Conference (NC).

Senior NC leaders and MLAs Mubarak Gul, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri and Abdul Majeed Larmi, who were overlooked for ministerial berths, have openly expressed their disappointment.

The newly sworn-in ministers are Ali Mohammad Sagar (Khanyar, Srinagar), Saifullah Mir (Trehgam, Kupwara), Altaf Wani (Pahalgam, Anantnag), and Shameema Firdous (Habbakadal, Srinagar). The first cabinet expansion in two years was an attempt by chief minister Omar Abdullah to balance veteran experience with younger leadership.

Gul's supporters held a protest a...