National Conference MLAs confront party leadership over adviser Nasir Aslam Wani
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During a two-hour meeting on November 6, senior National Conference legislators openly criticised chief minister Omar Abdullah's adviser, prompting a temporary cease-fire and the promise of consultative committees.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah hosted a meeting with about 15 dissenting MLAs at his Gupkar residence on Friday, November 6, after a cabinet expansion in October added four new ministers. The legislators voiced strong objections to adviser Nasir Aslam Wani, alleging that he had taken over key decision-making despite losing the 2024 election and that access to chief minister Omar Abdullah had become restricted.
"If you do not trust my team, you do not trust me. If you do not trust me, I have no moral right to continue," Omar Abdullah told the group, offering to resign several times before being persuaded to stay.
Farooq Abdullah warned that publicizing internal grievances could portray the party as divided and weaken its broader campaign for the restoration of statehood and Article 370. He acknowledged the MLAs' concerns as genuine and pledged procedural reforms, including the creation of consultative committees for each cabinet minister and a manifesto monitoring committee.
The meeting concluded without meeting the dissenters' core demands to replace all eight ministers, including deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary, or to remove Wani. However, the leadership agreed to consider a cabinet reshuffle within a year. Outside the venue, Bijbehara MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri described the outcome as "fruitful," noting that some measures would be implemented soon.
Analysts note that the gathering marks the first instance in 42 years of open intra-party criticism within the National Conference, a party traditionally known for strict internal discipline. The episode occurs amid broader pressures on the government, including the recent resignation of MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and public impatience over the pace of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's special status.