Senior leaders attempt to open communication channels with unhappy legislators as demands for cabinet restructuring, accountability and implementation of election promises expose deeper divisions within the ruling party
By: Javid Amin | 02 November 2026
Srinagar: The National Conference (NC) is facing a difficult test of internal unity after a cabinet reshuffle triggered growing dissatisfaction among its legislators, with senior party leaders now attempting to bring the disgruntled members into direct discussions with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
What initially appeared to be resentment over ministerial appointments has developed into a wider challenge involving cabinet performance, the functioning of the Chief Minister’s Office, internal consultation and the party’s commitment to promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections.
The situation has become more complicated with Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi maintaining his decision to resign from the National Conference and his Lok Sabha seat on November 3. Unlike the legislators seeking organisational and governmental changes, Ruhullah has framed his departure around what he describes as the party leadership’s failure to honour its political commitments, particularly on Article 370 and constitutional rights.
The leadership is therefore dealing with two distinct challenges: a group of legislators demanding changes in how the government and party function, and a senior parliamentarian questioning the ideological direction of the NC itself.
Although the party has publicly rejected suggestions of an organised rebellion, the developments have exposed internal disagreements that can no longer be dismissed as routine disappointment following a cabinet expansion.
NC Leadership Attempts Damage Control
The latest developments suggest that the party leadership is trying to prevent dissatisfaction from turning into a formal organisational confrontation.
NC Kashmir provincial president Showkat Ahmad Mir has said that legislators with grievances would be given an opportunity to place their concerns before the party leadership and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
He has also rejected reports of a rebel faction, describing the meeting of unhappy legislators as an informal gathering rather than an organised attempt to challenge the government.
According to reports, senior legislators have been nominated to communicate their concerns to the Chief Minister. The leadership has indicated that differences can be addressed through internal discussions.
However, the dissident camp appears to want more than informal assurances. Reports published by The New Indian Express on November 2 said the group was continuing to press its demands following a nearly four-hour meeting at the Srinagar residence of an NC legislator on October 30.
The central issue is whether the leadership will agree to discuss substantive changes or limit its response to listening to complaints.
That distinction will determine whether the current outreach produces a settlement or merely postpones another confrontation.
How a Cabinet Expansion Triggered Wider Discontent
The immediate trigger was the cabinet expansion on October 27, when four National Conference legislators were inducted into the Council of Ministers.
The new ministers were Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani, popularly known as Kalloo.
The expansion was intended to strengthen the Omar Abdullah government’s ministerial team. However, the selection also left several senior legislators disappointed, particularly those who believed their experience, political contribution or organisational standing deserved greater recognition.
The exclusion of Mubarak Gul, the six-time Eidgah MLA and former Assembly Speaker, became one of the most visible examples of the discontent. Gul had briefly been appointed NC general secretary after the cabinet reshuffle, but the party subsequently retained Ali Mohammad Sagar in the organisational position.
The developments added to the perception among some legislators that important decisions were being taken without adequate consultation.
The discontent did not remain limited to private conversations. Legislators reportedly met, prepared a charter of demands and began coordinating their position.
The New Indian Express reported that around 20 legislators were part of the dissatisfied group, while other media reports referred to figures as high as 25. These numbers should be treated as reported estimates rather than a confirmed list of signatories or a formally declared legislative bloc.
What Are the Disgruntled MLAs Demanding?
The charter of demands reportedly goes beyond the allocation of ministerial positions.
The legislators are understood to be seeking:
- Cabinet restructuring: A review of the existing ministerial team, including replacing ministers who have served since the government’s formation in October 2024.
- Changes in the Chief Minister’s Office: Removal of Chief Minister’s advisers Nasir Aslam Wani and Shammi Oberoi has figured in reports about the dissidents’ demands.
- Greater consultation: More involvement of elected legislators in cabinet appointments, portfolio allocation and important political decisions.
- Accountability in governance: A review of ministerial performance and the handling of party and government affairs.
- Implementation of election promises: Time-bound action on commitments made in the NC’s 2024 Assembly election manifesto.
- A stronger political position: More assertive efforts to secure restoration of statehood and address the party’s position on Article 370.
The demand for a review of the cabinet is particularly significant. Reports suggest that some legislators want all four ministers who have been part of the government since October 2024 to be replaced, creating opportunities for senior leaders and those left out of the recent expansion.
The demand is not merely about rewarding political loyalty. It also raises a question about how the party evaluates ministerial performance and whether its elected representatives have a meaningful role in decisions affecting the government.
The reported demand for changes among the Chief Minister’s advisers is another sensitive issue. It suggests that some legislators are dissatisfied with the way the Chief Minister’s Office functions and how access to the party leadership is managed.
These demands, if accurately reported, indicate that the dispute has moved from the question of who received a ministerial berth to the larger issue of who influences decision-making within the ruling party.
The Dachigam Meeting and Unfulfilled Assurances
One of the important elements in the dissidents’ argument is a meeting held at Dachigam in June.
According to legislators quoted in media reports, Omar Abdullah had given assurances during a meeting on June 3 concerning the functioning of the government and the concerns raised by MLAs and ministers.
The legislators reportedly complained about the conduct of some ministers, portfolio arrangements and the limited role of elected representatives in decision-making.
They now argue that several of those assurances were not implemented, allowing dissatisfaction to build over subsequent months.
This is politically important because it challenges the idea that the current unrest began only after the October cabinet expansion.
If the dissidents’ account is accurate, the cabinet reshuffle was the immediate trigger, but the underlying disagreements had been developing for months.
The Chief Minister’s side and the party leadership have not publicly accepted the dissidents’ full account of the Dachigam discussions. The details of what was promised, what was agreed and what was subsequently implemented remain matters requiring direct confirmation from the participants.
Nevertheless, the repeated reference to the meeting suggests that the legislators see the current dispute as a question of credibility as much as cabinet representation.
Why the Ruhullah Issue Makes the Crisis More Complicated
While the disgruntled MLAs are pressing for changes within the government, Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has taken a separate political position.
Ruhullah has repeatedly announced that he intends to resign from both the National Conference and his Lok Sabha membership on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
His disagreement with the party leadership has developed over a longer period, particularly following differences over reservation policies, the restoration of Article 370 and the political commitments made during the 2024 elections.
In an October 31 report, The Indian Express quoted the MP’s office confirming the November 3 resignation announcement. Ruhullah’s statement criticised what he described as the leadership’s failure to honour the party’s own manifesto and accused its senior figures of prioritising political convenience over electoral commitments.
He has also questioned the NC’s increasing emphasis on statehood as the principal political objective, arguing that it risks abandoning the demand for restoration of the constitutional protections associated with Article 370.
Ruhullah’s position is different from that of the dissident MLAs.
The legislators are primarily seeking changes in government functioning, cabinet composition and organisational decision-making. Ruhullah is challenging the party’s political direction and its handling of the commitments on which it sought public support.
This distinction is important. It would be inaccurate to describe Ruhullah as the leader of the disgruntled MLA group or to assume that the two sides are coordinating their actions.
Indeed, Ruhullah has criticised the legislators themselves, describing their dissent as driven by what he called “bruised egos” rather than ideology.
His criticism suggests that the internal divisions are not organised around one common opposition to the Abdullah leadership. Different groups are questioning the leadership for different reasons.
Ruhullah’s November 3 Decision: A Test of Political Credibility
November 3 has become a crucial date for the National Conference.
Ruhullah has said that his decision is not driven by personal grievances or political bargaining. He has presented it as a response to what he regards as the party’s failure to remain faithful to its commitments.
His planned departure carries significance beyond the loss of one parliamentary representative.
Ruhullah won the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in 2024 after campaigning for the National Conference. His decision to leave the party and surrender the seat, if formally completed, would raise questions about the relationship between electoral mandates, party loyalty and the accountability of political leadership.
It would also create a vacancy in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency, subject to the formal acceptance of his resignation by the Lok Sabha Speaker and the resulting constitutional and electoral process.
As of the morning of November 3, reports continue to describe the resignation as expected. The formal submission and acceptance should not be treated as completed until confirmed through official parliamentary or party records.
The MP’s next political move is also uncertain. He has indicated an interest in returning to grassroots politics and engaging with like-minded people, but his future organisational or electoral plans have not been conclusively established.
For the NC leadership, the immediate challenge is to prevent his departure from becoming a wider indictment of the party’s political credibility.
NC Leadership Rejects the Rebellion Narrative
The National Conference has consistently attempted to play down reports of a major internal revolt.
Showkat Ahmad Mir has described the legislators’ meeting as an informal gathering, saying that concerns would be communicated to the leadership through internal channels.
He has also argued that disappointment following a cabinet expansion is understandable when the number of ministerial positions is limited and several senior legislators are eligible for government responsibilities.
Javed Rana, a senior NC minister, has similarly rejected the suggestion that the party is facing an irreversible split. The party’s public position is that internal differences can be resolved through discussion.
The NC leadership has also issued a statement asserting that the organisation remains united and that its political agenda continues to be rooted in protecting the rights, identity and constitutional interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
This response reflects an understandable effort to prevent speculation about a rebellion from weakening the government’s political standing.
However, dismissing the term “rebellion” does not resolve the concerns raised by legislators. The more important test will be whether the leadership meets the group, addresses the charter and offers a credible response.
The distinction between a formal split and genuine internal dissatisfaction should be maintained. The available reporting establishes serious discontent, but it does not establish that the MLAs have formally withdrawn support from the government or left the party.
Is Omar Abdullah’s Government Facing a Numerical Threat?
The political pressure on Omar Abdullah is real, but it should not automatically be described as an imminent collapse of the government.
The National Conference-led alliance secured a majority in the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election. The NC won 42 of the 90 elected seats, while the Congress won six. The government also received support from other legislators.
The current dissatisfaction is taking place within the ruling party, and reports of a 14-day ultimatum have raised the possibility that some legislators could threaten to withdraw support.
However, a reported ultimatum is not the same as a formal withdrawal of legislative support. Nor does a meeting of unhappy MLAs establish that all those attending have agreed to resign or vote against the government.
The precise number of legislators participating in the group has also varied across media reports. Some have cited around 20, while others have referred to 25. Until a verified list and a formal statement from the legislators are available, claims about the group’s strength should be treated cautiously.
For the government to face an actual Assembly-level crisis, the disagreement would have to translate into concrete legislative action, such as resignations, withdrawal of support or voting against the government on a confidence-related matter.
At present, the more immediate challenge is political and organisational: whether the Chief Minister can retain the confidence of his own legislators and restore discipline within the ruling party.
The Bigger Question: What Happened to the NC’s 2024 Mandate?
The internal crisis has brought the National Conference’s election promises back into focus.
During the 2024 Assembly election, the party campaigned on restoring statehood, pursuing the restoration of Article 370 and protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s identity and constitutional interests.
It also made commitments concerning employment, public welfare, political rights and governance.
The NC’s return to power raised expectations among supporters that an elected government would be able to push these issues more forcefully.
But the political and constitutional powers available to the elected government remain limited in important areas because Jammu and Kashmir continues to be a Union Territory without a legislature comparable to that of a full state.
The restoration of statehood depends on decisions at the Union level, while Article 370’s abrogation was upheld by the Supreme Court in December 2023.
This creates a difficult political environment for the ruling party. It must respond to public expectations while operating within a constitutional framework that it does not control entirely.
Ruhullah’s criticism reflects the view that the party has not pressed its constitutional demands strongly enough. The disgruntled legislators, meanwhile, are questioning whether the government is delivering effectively and whether party representatives have enough influence over its decisions.
Both disagreements ultimately return to the question of how the NC intends to translate its election mandate into political and administrative outcomes.
Ground Analysis: Why This Crisis Is Different
The most significant feature of the current unrest is the emergence of multiple centres of dissatisfaction.
The first is the cabinet issue. Legislators who expected greater representation are questioning the selection process and seeking changes to the ministerial team.
The second is organisational. Some members appear dissatisfied with how decisions are communicated, how access to the Chief Minister is managed and how much influence elected legislators have over the party’s direction.
The third is ideological. Ruhullah’s challenge concerns the party’s position on Article 370, statehood and its broader political commitments.
These are connected issues, but they are not interchangeable.
A cabinet reshuffle could potentially address some grievances among legislators. It would not necessarily resolve Ruhullah’s ideological objections.
Similarly, a stronger public position on Article 370 might answer part of the political criticism but would not automatically settle disagreements over ministerial performance, advisers or internal consultation.
This is why the current outreach matters. The leadership needs to understand that the crisis cannot necessarily be resolved through one announcement or one meeting.
It requires separate engagement with different groups and a clear explanation of what changes are possible.
What Happens Next?
Three developments will shape the next phase of the crisis.
1. Direct Talks Between Omar Abdullah and Disgruntled MLAs
The first test will be whether the Chief Minister holds substantive discussions with the legislators.
The dissidents appear to want direct engagement rather than communication through intermediaries. Their response to any meeting will depend on whether the leadership addresses their actual demands or simply asks them to maintain party discipline.
2. The Response to the Charter of Demands
The party leadership will have to decide how far it is prepared to go on cabinet restructuring, changes in the Chief Minister’s Office and greater consultation.
A complete cabinet overhaul may not be politically or administratively straightforward. However, refusing to engage with the concerns could deepen resentment.
A written or clearly communicated response would help establish whether negotiations are producing concrete progress.
3. Ruhullah’s Formal Resignation
The November 3 announcement is the most immediate political event.
If Ruhullah formally submits his resignation from the party and Lok Sabha, the NC will face a separate political setback. If he changes his decision, the reasons and terms of any reconsideration will also attract attention.
His next steps could influence the wider debate over the party’s ideological direction and the future of regional politics.
Current Scenario: Damage Control, but No Confirmed Settlement
As of November 3, the National Conference is attempting to manage an internal crisis that has developed since the October 27 cabinet expansion.
Senior leaders have indicated that dissatisfied legislators can present their concerns to Omar Abdullah, while the party’s provincial leadership continues to reject the description of an organised rebellion.
At the same time, reports indicate that the dissident legislators have not withdrawn their demands. The number of MLAs involved remains inconsistently reported, and a formal withdrawal of support has not been established.
Ruhullah’s planned resignation adds a separate and potentially more consequential political development. His objections concern the party’s ideological direction and its commitments on Article 370, statehood and constitutional rights.
The immediate threat to the Omar Abdullah government therefore remains a question of political cohesion rather than a confirmed loss of Assembly numbers.
But the episode has exposed a serious challenge for the National Conference: a party that returned to power promising to represent Jammu and Kashmir’s political aspirations is now facing questions from its own legislators about governance, accountability and the fulfilment of its promises.
The coming days will show whether the leadership can turn its outreach into a meaningful internal settlement or whether the disagreements will harden into a longer organisational crisis.
For now, the NC has moved from denying the seriousness of the discontent to attempting to manage it. Whether that amounts to successful damage control will depend not on statements of unity, but on what the leadership is prepared to change.
