A group of disgruntled National Conference (NC) MLAs held a lengthy meeting on Friday and drew up a list of demands, along with an ultimatum for the Chief Minister and the party leadership. There are clear signs of trouble in paradise. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who expanded his Cabinet just days ago, is now facing a rebellion within his own party.
Sources said the top demand of the rebel MLAs is the removal of the Chief Minister’s advisor and some ministers.
Sources said the MLAs signed a resolution demanding the removal of Nasir Aslam Wani as advisor to the Chief Minister and the sacking of some ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary. The group is learnt to include legislators from both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region. “We want to meet the Chief Minister to convey our demands. We are not against the party, but it cannot be business as usual. The meeting was held at the residence of MLA Qaisar Jamshid Lone. “We are not rebels. We want to strengthen the party. Everyone at the meeting wanted the party to remain united.
Sources said the top demand of the rebel MLAs is the removal of the Chief Minister’s advisor and some ministers. At least 18 ruling party MLAs met in Srinagar on Friday evening and vowed to fight for “reforms” within the National Conference, seeking greater accountability in governance and transparency in the criteria adopted for the recent Cabinet reshuffle. Sources said six other MLAs joined the meeting via video conference and extended their support to the disgruntled group. He (the CM) should listen to us and make changes that are in the interest of the party and the government,” said a disgruntled MLA. 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,” said another senior leader who attended the meeting.
