SRINAGAR — The National Conference leadership has sought one year to consider a Cabinet reshuffle and proposed associating four legislators with each minister through departmental consultative groups, even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reportedly offered to resign during a tense meeting with party MLAs on Friday.
A prominent NC legislator who attended the meeting told the news agency KNS that discussions with party president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah centred on addressing legislators’ grievances and improving coordination between ministers and elected representatives.
“The party leadership has sought one year for a cabinet reshuffle. It was also proposed that a consultative group comprising four MLAs would be associated with each minister in the respective departments,” the legislator told KNS, requesting anonymity.
The MLA said the proposed arrangement was intended to involve legislators in departmental consultations and provide them with a direct channel to raise issues concerning their constituencies.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of appointing an additional advisor to the Chief Minister from the Jammu region.
“The proposal for one more advisor from Jammu was discussed during the meeting,” the MLA said, adding that no appointment had been finalised.
The legislator further revealed that the meeting witnessed tense moments when Omar Abdullah expressed frustration over the pressure he was facing.
“Omar Sahib stood up and tried to leave the meeting. He said he was under pressure and was prepared to resign. He even said that any other legislator could be made Chief Minister,” the MLA told KNS.
According to the legislator, the remarks prompted those present to reassure the Chief Minister that they were not seeking a change in leadership.
“We made it clear that we were not against him. Our concerns were about certain issues that needed to be addressed, not about replacing the Chief Minister,” he said.
The meeting took place days after a group of NC legislators held consultations over the functioning of the government and subsequently submitted an eight-point memorandum to the party leadership.
The legislators had raised concerns relating to the implementation of election promises, restoration of statehood and special status, Cabinet restructuring, coordination between ministers and MLAs, and organisational matters.
The discussions followed a series of meetings among party legislators that had fuelled speculation about differences within the ruling party.
The recent Cabinet expansion had also brought questions of ministerial representation and the role of legislators into sharper focus.
The MLA said Friday’s meeting provided an opportunity for legislators to place their concerns directly before Farooq Abdullah and the Chief Minister.
While the leadership has sought time to consider the demand for Cabinet changes, the proposed departmental consultative groups and the possibility of appointing an additional advisor from Jammu emerged as key issues during the discussions.
The legislator said the effectiveness of the assurances would depend on how the proposals were implemented in the coming months.
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