The calm in Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling establishment has cracked. Only days after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expanded his Cabinet, hoping to settle the party’s restless ranks, a rebellion has erupted within his own National Conference (NC), one that could test his leadership.
On Friday evening, a group of disgruntled NC legislators met in Srinagar for nearly three hours. They emerged with a resolution, a list of demands and what sources describe as an ultimatum to both the Chief Minister and the party leadership.
A Meeting That Sent Shockwaves
At least 18 ruling party MLAs gathered at the Friends Enclave residence of MLA Qaisar Jamshid Lone, and sources said six more joined by video conference to pledge support. That brings the claimed strength of the dissident camp to 24. Those present and those backing the group reportedly include legislators from both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, so this is not confined to one geography.
Those absent were reportedly away for personal reasons. Sources said one was abroad, one was attending to his critically ill father, one was in Jammu and one was unwell.
The numbers matter. The NC has 41 MLAs in the 90-member Assembly and runs the government with the support of the Congress (six MLAs), smaller parties and Independents. If the 24 claimed dissidents hold together, they represent a majority of the NC’s own legislature party.
The Four Demands
According to sources, the MLAs took an oath to remain united for “strengthening the party” and signed a resolution pressing four major demands:
- Removal of the Chief Minister’s advisor, Nasir Aslam Wani
- Dropping of ministers who have completed two years in office
- A comprehensive restructuring of the Council of Ministers
Beyond these, the group wants a roadmap for implementing the party manifesto, greater empowerment of MLAs, and more accountability in governance and transparency in the criteria used in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
Rebels Nazir Gurezi to Head Rebels
The MLAs also chose Gurez MLA Nazir Gurezi to head a committee that will submit a memorandum with these demands to NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah. Sources insist that no one in the group is asking for a Cabinet berth. They say the choice of new ministers should rest with the party president and the Chief Minister.
“We Are Not Rebels”
The dissidents were careful about their words. “We want to meet the Chief Minister to convey our demands. We are not against the party, but it cannot be business as usual,” one MLA said. “He should listen to us and make changes that are in the interest of the party and the government.”
Another legislator said: “We have taken an oath to fight for internal democracy in the party. We want the removal of the CM’s advisor and some ministers, a roadmap for implementing the party manifesto, and the empowerment of MLAs.”
A senior leader at the meeting said: “We are not rebels. We want to strengthen the party. Everyone at the meeting wanted the party to remain united. We are only demanding accountability and want to ensure that the party and the government are not treated as the fiefdom of a few individuals.”
The meeting was also emotional. Some senior MLAs reportedly broke down while recounting how they had allegedly been treated by the party leadership and the Chief Minister’s advisor. Some lamented that certain ministers and officers had crossed all limits in humiliating them. Gulabgarh MLA Engineer Khursheed alleged that the Deputy Chief Minister had virtually thrown him out of his office.
A Reshuffle That Backfired
The Cabinet reshuffle, in which Omar Abdullah inducted four new ministers and leaned on the NC’s old guard, was expected to soothe discontent. Instead, it appears to have deepened resentment among a section of party legislators, who question both its criteria and its outcome.
Ruhullah Adds to the Pressure
The timing is awkward for the NC. Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah, a hugely popular leader with a long and strained relationship with the Abdullah family, has announced that he will resign from his parliamentary seat and party membership and chart his own course. Together, the MLA revolt and Ruhullah’s exit leave the party looking at fissures at both the grassroots and the leadership level.
The Sagar Order: Fact vs. Social Media Frenzy
Amid the turmoil, another development was quickly read as a sign of the party’s troubles. On Friday, the NC president’s order returning charge of General Secretary to Cabinet Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar triggered a flood of speculation. Many on social media framed it as Dr Farooq Abdullah’s angry response to disgruntled MLA Mubarak Gul, who was said to have been stripped of the post. The reality is more mundane, according to those who checked.
It was a temporary arrangement, driven by the Ladakh polls. Elections to Panchayats, municipal wards and Hill Development constituencies across Ladakh are due in November. With the nomination window running from November 2 to 5, the Islamic School of Kargil approached Dr Abdullah to field candidates on the NC symbol, and he agreed. Under party rules, such candidates need a written authority signed by both the General Secretary and the President, or Returning Officers will not accept their nominations.
Mubarak Gul, the designated General Secretary, is reportedly disgruntled at not being made a minister and has been staying away from the party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subh. Dr Abdullah therefore assigned the charge to Sagar “till further orders.” The authority letters were signed and sent to Kargil. Mubarak Gul, notably, is on the list of those who attended Friday’s dissident meeting.
What Comes Next?
The dissidents say they are not breaking away, but their message is blunt. The real test lies ahead: whether Omar Abdullah and Dr Farooq Abdullah will open a dialogue, concede some demands or dig in. The advisor, the Deputy CM and the future shape of the Cabinet are now live bargaining chips, and a party that rode to power on unity faces its sharpest internal challenge since taking office.
Attendees (as per sources)
Qaisar Jamshid Lone, Javed Mirchal, Saifuddin Bhat, Dr Sajjad Shafi, Dr Bashir Veeri, Mushtaq Guru, Abdul Majid Larmi, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Mubarak Gul, Nazir Gurezi, Aijaz Jan, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, Arjun Singh Raju, Hilal Akbar Lone, Khursheed Ahmad (Gulabgarh), Hasnain Masoodi and Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir.
