Farooq steps in to contain NC crisis, assures disgruntled MLAs of action

A brewing rebellion within the ruling National Conference on Friday brought the party’s top leadership into damage-control mode, with president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah meeting disgruntled legislators amid mounting demands for changes in the government’s functioning and Cabinet structure.

While Farooq emerged from the meeting projecting confidence in the party’s unity and dismissing talk of a split as baseless, his acknowledgement of the legislators’ “genuine concerns” indicated that the internal discontent could not simply be brushed aside.

“The party stands united and shall continue to fight for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A which were abrogated by the centre in August 2019”, he asserted.

“These are baseless reports. The NC will never be split. I have heard their grievances, and we will work on them,” Farooq Abdullah after meeting the 15 party MLAs amid growing discontent over the recent cabinet expansion and the functioning of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government.

“They have expressed genuine concerns. Some will be addressed immediately and some will be addressed in the long run”, Farooq Abdullah told reporters.

“The party is well organised and there is no such issue that will divide us”, he said.

The meeting assumes significance as differences had surfaced within the ruling NC following the recent cabinet reshuffle undertaken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. A group of legislators had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over certain political and administrative decisions, including the functioning of the government and the role of the Chief Minister’s political adviser, Nasir Aslam Wani.

The dissenting legislators had also reportedly sought greater consultation with the party leadership and a review of certain ministerial responsibilities.

The meeting between Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and the legislators was seen as an attempt to resolve the differences through internal dialogue and prevent the issue from escalating into a larger organisational crisis.

While the party president projected unity and said there was no question of a split, it remains to be seen whether the assurances given at the meeting will satisfy the dissenting legislators and bring an end to the differences within the ruling party.

The legislators who arrived for the meeting included Javed Mirchal, Sajad Shafi Uri, Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Farooq Jan, Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Abdul Majid Bhat alias Larmi, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Mubarak Gul, Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Aijaz Ahmad Jan, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, Saif-ud-Din Bhat and Qaisar Jamshaid Lone.