SRINAGAR: The crucial meeting between a group of around 20 disgruntled ruling Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) MLAs and the party leadership began at the residence of party president Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar on Friday, with the legislators seeking action on their grievances following Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s first cabinet reshuffle.
The disappointed legislators, who have held four meetings within a week, have raised concerns over the composition of the reshuffled cabinet and demanded changes to accommodate senior leaders and those left out.
The group of MLAs have been demanding the dropping of four ministers who have been part of the CM's cabinet since its formation in October 2024, seeking their replacement with senior party leaders and those who were overlooked in the recent reshuffle.
The group has also sought removal of Chief Minister’s advisers Nasir Aslam Wani and Shammi Oberoi, fulfilment of the party’s electoral promises and a more assertive stand on restoration of statehood and Article 370, which figured prominently in the JKNC’s 2024 Assembly election manifesto.
The legislators, including Farooq Shah, Abdul Majeed Larmi, Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi, Aijaz Jan, Sajad Uri, Saifudin Bhat, Mubarak Gul, Qaisar Jamshed Lone, Arjun Singh, Khurshid Ahmed, Javaid Mirchal and Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, arrived at Abdullah's Gupkar residence for the crucial meeting.
“We have come to meet the leader. We have come to talk to him. He is our leader, and we will share our grievances with him,” JKNC MLA Nazir Ahmed Gurezi told reporters before entering Abdullah's residence.
The leadership has moved quickly to reach out to the dissenting legislators, particularly after party leader and Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his decision to quit the party and resign from the Lok Sabha seat.
Ruhullah had accused the Abdullahs of “betraying” the 2024 public mandate and criticised the party leadership for failing to fulfil key electoral promises.
Against this backdrop, Friday's meeting assumes significance as the JKNC leadership seeks to contain the growing dissent within the ruling party and restore confidence among the unhappy legislators.