Srinagar, Oct. 19 -- National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday cited lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha's illness as the reason for the further delay in the cabinet expansion in Jammu and Kashmir. He said once Sinha is back, the much-awaited cabinet expansion will take place.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah had earlier said that after consultation with NC president Farooq Abdullah, cabinet expansion will take place after the GST council meeting that ended last week. However, the expansion was further delayed after the meeting, prompting opposition parties to attribute it to internal bickering within NC.

On Monday, the NC chief clarified that the expansion couldn't take place last week due to Sinha's illness.

"The lieutenant...