Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will hold a key meeting today with a group of disgruntled MLAs of his party, who have raised a banner of revolt after a recent cabinet reshuffle.
At least 18 of the 41 National Conference MLAs are demanding sweeping reforms in government and organisational functioning, accountability, and the removal of Omar Abdullah’s key aide.
Ahead of the crucial meeting, which will also be attended by NC president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah, the dissenters held a meeting to firm up their united stand on the demands they made in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister. Besides the removal of Nasir Aslam Wani as the advisor to the Chief Minister, the dissenter group has demanded that the deputy chief minister, Surinder Choudhary, be divested of the PWD ministry immediately. “We are not rebels. We want to strengthen the party. Everyone in the meeting wanted the party to remain united.
At least 18 of the 41 National Conference MLAs are demanding sweeping reforms in government and organisational functioning, accountability, and the removal of the Chief Minister’s key aide.
The disgruntled MLAs have expressed concern over a “growing disconnect between expectations of people and functioning of government” and flagged alleged misgovernance, lack of accountability and lack of consultation with the elected representatives. Demanding the removal of Wani as advisor to the Chief Minister, the dissenters have accused the adviser of the “growing disconnect between the party leadership, elected representatives and the Government”. We are only asking for accountability and not allowing the party and the government to be treated as a fiefdom of some individuals,” said a senior leader.
