The political crisis within Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference escalated further as a faction of 10 to 15 dissatisfied legislators convened for a private meeting in Srinagar. The internal friction has grown following Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's controversial cabinet reshuffle and expansion, which left several veteran party members sidelined.
The administrative troubles compound an already difficult period for the National Conference, which also dealt with the departure of Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah. The departing MP publicly asserted that the party had strayed from its core electoral commitments regarding the reinstatement of Article 370 and the safeguarding of local constitutional rights.
Following the recent cabinet changes on October 27, the disgruntled lawmakers gathered to plot their political strategy. This faction has issued a demand for the complete replacement of all eight current cabinet ministers, including the deputy chief minister, giving leadership a 15-day ultimatum. Additionally, they are calling for the dismissal of the Chief Minister's adviser, Nasir Aslam Wani, whom they accuse of exerting undue authority over governance.
Tensions were further highlighted when Eidgah MLA and six-time legislator Mubarak Gul signaled his frustration after failing to secure a ministerial position. Although supporters staged demonstrations in Srinagar and anticipated a major resignation announcement, Gul ultimately postponed his scheduled press address to a later date.
While the ruling alliance maintains a comfortable numerical advantage in the 90-member legislative assembly with 54 total seats against an opposition bloc of 36, political analysts are monitoring whether the internal revolt could threaten administrative stability. Observers note that while a mass resignation scenario remains purely hypothetical at this stage, the fast-moving developments have introduced significant uncertainty for the current administration.