Farooq Assures Disgruntled NC Legislators of Action, Gurezi Rules Out Party Split as Cabinet Reshuffle Dispute Persists
Srinagar, KNT: The National Conference leadership has moved to contain growing discontent within its ranks following a series of meetings by dissatisfied legislators, with party president Farooq Abdullah acknowledging that their grievances were genuine and assuring them that some issues would be addressed immediately while others would be taken up gradually.
The post-meeting statements by Farooq Abdullah and senior NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi sought to dispel speculation about a possible split in the party. However, the leadership has not publicly announced any concrete decision on the principal demands reportedly raised by the legislators, including a major Cabinet reshuffle and the removal of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s adviser, Nasir Aslam Wani.
Speaking after the meeting, Farooq Abdullah dismissed reports that the National Conference was heading towards a split, describing such claims as completely false. He said the legislators had been heard and that their problems were genuine.
“We have talked to them, their problems were genuine, they were listened to very well,” Farooq said, indicating that the leadership was considering their concerns and would take steps to address them.
He said some issues would be dealt with quickly, while others would require time, adding that the objective was to strengthen the party and the government.
Farooq also reiterated the National Conference’s political commitment to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and its position on Articles 370 and 35A.
Gurezi, who emerged as one of the prominent voices among the dissatisfied legislators, also rejected suggestions that the group was attempting to form a separate political formation.
“We are legislators of the National Conference. We come to our party leadership with our issues every time,” Gurezi said, arguing that their meetings with the party leadership were being portrayed differently on social media.
“No separate party has emerged from the National Conference,” he said, making it clear that the legislators were raising their concerns within the organisation rather than seeking to break away from it.
Gurezi said the legislators had placed their issues before Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Farooq Abdullah and had received assurances that some matters would be addressed immediately, while others would be resolved gradually.
The assurances came against the backdrop of mounting resentment following the October 27 Cabinet expansion, in which four new ministers were inducted. Several legislators were reportedly unhappy with the manner in which the Cabinet was reconstituted and felt that seniority, experience and their contribution to the party had not been adequately considered.
Among the principal demands attributed to the group is a comprehensive restructuring of the Council of Ministers. Reports on the legislators’ charter said they had sought the replacement of all eight existing Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, within 15 days, followed by the formation of a fresh Cabinet after consultations and consideration of merit.
The legislators have also reportedly demanded the removal of Nasir Aslam Wani from his position as adviser to the Chief Minister. Their dissatisfaction is said to extend beyond the Cabinet composition to the functioning of the government, the role of political aides and what they perceive as inadequate consultation with elected representatives.
Another major concern relates to the relationship between legislators and the government. The dissatisfied members have reportedly sought a more effective mechanism through which elected representatives can raise constituency-related issues, obtain responses from the administration and participate in important political and governance decisions.
Their broader proposals have also included greater consultation within the party, regular meetings of organisational bodies, a mechanism for addressing internal grievances and steps to strengthen coordination between the government and the party organisation.
Bashir Ahmad Veeri, another NC legislator who spoke after the leadership interaction, indicated that some confidence-building measures and suggestions put forward by the legislators would be implemented soon, while others would be taken up in phases. He said developments would become visible in the coming days.
However, no formal announcement has so far been made accepting the demand for a wholesale Cabinet replacement or confirming any decision regarding Nasir Aslam Wani. The leadership’s public response has remained focused on listening to the legislators, addressing their concerns and preventing the internal differences from escalating into an organisational crisis.
The discontent has also unfolded at a politically sensitive time for the National Conference. The departure of Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from the party’s parliamentary ranks, with his resignation from the Lok Sabha accepted with effect from November 3, has added to the pressure on the leadership to address internal differences and prevent further political damage.
The latest intervention by Farooq Abdullah appears aimed at reassuring the dissatisfied legislators that their concerns will not be ignored. Gurezi’s remarks, meanwhile, indicate that the group is continuing to present its demands as an internal party matter rather than a move towards rebellion or a separate political platform.
For the moment, the immediate confrontation appears to have eased following the meeting, but the substantive issues remain unresolved. Whether the leadership will translate its assurances into changes in the Cabinet, the Chief Minister’s advisory arrangement or the party’s internal decision-making structure will determine whether the current discontent is genuinely settled or merely put on hold. [KNT]
