Srinagar, November 3: Amid growing discontent within the ruling National Conference (NC) following the recent Cabinet expansion, around 10 party legislators held another closed-door meeting at the residence of Tangmarg MLA Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah in Gulberg Colony, Hyderpora, Srinagar, on Tuesday evening.
Sources said the meeting was attended by several NC legislators, including Lolab MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Bijbehara MLA Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, former Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul and Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, among others.
The meeting followed an earlier gathering of NC legislators held on October 30, during which the lawmakers discussed their grievances and demands with the party leadership.
Sources said Tuesday’s meeting focused on deciding the future course of action and formulating a collective strategy to press their demands before the party leadership.
The legislators reportedly discussed issues including a proposed Cabinet reshuffle, changes in ministerial portfolios, removal of the Chief Minister’s advisor and improved coordination between the government and party legislators.
The latest meeting comes on the same day Aga Ruhullah submitted his resignation from the National Conference and as Srinagar Member of Parliament. It also follows the October 30 gathering, when 18 NC legislators assembled at the Srinagar residence of Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, triggering speculation about growing differences within the party after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet expansion on October 27.
During the earlier meeting, the legislators had decided to constitute a four-member delegation headed by Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi and Thanamandi MLA Muzafar Iqbal Khan to convey their concerns to NC president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The lawmakers had also raised concerns over the functioning of the government, ministerial performance and the handling of issues discussed during an earlier meeting in Dachigam.
The October 27 Cabinet expansion saw four NC legislators — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani — inducted into the Council of Ministers, while Independent MLA Satish Sharma was dropped.
While the party leadership has described the developments as democratic differences and internal discussions, the latest gathering has once again brought attention to the reported discontent within the ruling party.
