15 disgruntled NC MLAs at Farooq Abdullah's home, CM Omar sets conditions
Tensions within the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) escalated as 15 disgruntled MLAs gathered at party president Farooq Abdullah's residence in Srinagar for a crucial meeting aimed at resolving the growing rebellion against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
According to sources, the Chief Minister has refused to meet the lone Independent MLA who is part of the dissident group, conveying that he is willing to hold talks only with legislators belonging to the NC.
The legislators who arrived for the meeting are Javed Mirchal, Sajad Shafi Uri, Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Farooq Jan, Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Abdul Majid Bhat alias Larmi, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Mubarak Gul, Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, Aijaz Ahmad Jan, Javed Iqbal Choudhary, Saif-ud-Din Bhat and Qaisar Jamshaid Lone.#WATCH | Srinagar: Visuals from outside the residence of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, where some MLAs, reportedly unhappy with the recent Cabinet expansion, arrive to meet him and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah https://t.co/rgzaGYaQRTβ ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2026
The disgruntled MLAs are expected to formally submit their resolution to the party high command, placing their demands before the leadership amid the ongoing internal crisis.
The meeting comes amid mounting discontent over the recent Cabinet expansion and the functioning of the Omar Abdullah-led government.DISGRUNTLED MLAs REFUSE TO BACK DOWN
Ahead of the meeting, 15 disgruntled NC MLAs and one Independent MLA held another closed-door meeting in Srinagar on Thursday evening to finalise their collective strategy. This was reportedly their fourth such meeting since the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
Sources in the dissident camp said the legislators remained united and were unwilling to dilute their demands.
They have maintained that their actions are aimed at addressing internal grievances and saving the party.
The rebel MLAs have also alleged that they have faced continued humiliation and public disrespect from the Chief Minister and his close aides since the NC government came to power in October 2024.WHAT ARE THE MLAs DEMANDING?
Reshuffle the entire Cabinet: The MLAs want Omar Abdullah to relieve all ministers of their portfolios and constitute a new Cabinet after proper consultations with the NC legislature party.
Remove CM's adviser: They are demanding the removal of Nasir Aslam Wani from his position as adviser to the Chief Minister.
Address legislators' grievances: They want an assurance that MLAs will be treated with respect and an internal party mechanism will be established to address their genuine concerns.
The MLAs have indicated that they have been patient for long enough and are now seeking concrete action from the party leadership.NUMBER GAME PUTS OMAR GOVT UNDER PRESSURE
The rebellion has also brought the numbers in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly into focus.
The ruling alliance currently has 54 MLAs, comprising 41 from the National Conference, six Congress legislators, six Independents and one CPM member. The majority mark stands at 46.
The Opposition has 29 BJP MLAs, four from the PDP, one each from the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference and AAP, and one Independent.
According to the scenario being discussed, if 20 disgruntled NC MLAs resign together and one Independent MLA withdraws support, the Assembly's effective strength would fall to 70, bringing the majority mark down to 36.
In that situation, the ruling alliance's strength could fall to 33, comprising 21 NC MLAs, four Independents, six Congress MLAs and one CPM member β potentially putting the Omar Abdullah government below the majority mark.- Ends
Sunil Ji Bhat currently heads the Jammu Bureau of India Today Group and reports for both India Today TV and Aaj Tak.
From covering terror attacks and Pakistani shelling at the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB) to reporting from anti-terrorist operations' sites, Sunil's ground reportage has been the best and unmatched. In his special reports from Jammu, Sunil has also brought to the fore the plight of Valmiki Samaj, West Pakistan refugees, Gorkha community, displaced communities from Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and displaced Kashmiri Pandits. He has also highlighted the narrative of Jammu which is very different from Kashmir narrative. Sunil has filed many heart wrenching stories on terror victims and given voice to the voiceless. He is also a knowledge powerhouse when it comes to ancient, political, cultural history of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sunil has interviewed senior politicians from J&K like National Conference Chief & former J&K CM Dr Farooq Abdullah, senior Congress leader & former J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, former J&K Deputy CMs Kavinder Gupta & Dr Nirmal Singh and many other important politicians. Sunil has also interviewed national politicians like Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur, BJP's national general secretary Tarun Chugh, senior BJP leaders Ram Madhav & Vinod Tawde, senior Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Ragini Nayak, senior AIADMK leader & former Tamil Nadu Minister RB Udhaykumar and nation's real estate tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani.
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