2-year ministerial tenure, portfolio allocation; Satish Sharma’s dropping figure in discussions
NC reinstates Ali Mohd Sagar as general secretary
AKHIL MAHAJAN
JAMMU: Shivers appear to be running through the ruling National Conference (NC) following the recent Cabinet expansion, which left several party legislators aspiring for ministerial berths outside the government. The discontent, already visible through absence of various MLAs from Oath ceremony, public expressions of disappointment and protests by supporters of some senior leaders, came into limelight on Friday when nearly 18 MLAs— 17 from NC and an Independent legislator met at the residence of MLA from Lolab Qaiser Jamsheed Lone in Srinagar.
The gathering, attended by nearly 18 legislators, including Independent MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, has triggered fresh political speculation over the resentment within the ruling party.
Talking to THE EARTH NEWS, senior NC leader Nazir Ahmad Gurezi described the gathering as a friendly lunch and played down its political significance, its timing, coming just three days after the recent Cabinet expansion, has drawn attention to the simmering resentment among MLAs who were expecting ministerial berth.
Another MLA from Rajouri district, who wished not to be named, informed THE EARTH NEWS that the discussions largely revolved around the concerns of MLAs left out of the Cabinet berth, and possible measures to address dissatisfaction within the party. One of the major proposals reportedly discussed was a rotational arrangement under which the ministers and Advisor to CM could serve for only two-year terms, allowing a larger number of elected representatives to get an opportunity to hold ministerial office and serve the people.
The argument behind the proposal, according to sources, was that the Cabinet's limited strength makes it difficult to accommodate the aspirations of a large number of MLAs. A fixed tenure for ministers, followed by rotation, was discussed as a possible way of widening participation in governance and preventing prolonged discontent among NC MLAs. However, no formal decision or endorsement by the party leadership has been announced.
The dropping of Independent MLA Satish Sharma from the Council of Ministers also figured in the discussions. Sharma was removed during the recent Cabinet expansion, which saw four NC legislators — Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo — inducted into the Cabinet. The expansion brought the Council of Ministers to its maximum permissible strength of nine, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted ministers was another reported subject of discussion, with legislators understood to have examined the implications of the expansion and the distribution of responsibilities within the government. The exercise has already altered the political balance of the Cabinet, with the exclusion of Sharma and the induction of four NC legislators becoming central to the debate over representation and accommodation.
The meeting also assumes significance against the backdrop of disappointment expressed by senior legislators, including Mubarak Gul and Abdul Majid Larmi, following their exclusion from the Ministerial berth.
Pertinent to mention here that the questions over regional representation, particularly the absence of a minister from Jammu, will give an opportunity to main Opposition party—BJP to corner the Government in the coming days.
Sources within the NC maintained that the gathering should not be viewed merely as a social engagement, arguing that the leadership cannot afford to ignore the concerns of elected representatives. They warned that the fissures could widen in the coming days if corrective measures are not considered and the grievances of the left-out legislators remain unaddressed.
Interestingly, with the Cabinet now at its statutory ceiling, accommodating further aspirants would require a change in its existing composition. The NC leadership, therefore, faces the difficult task of balancing ministerial performance, regional representation and the expectations of its own MLAs.
“Any prolonged failure to manage these competing demands could turn the present disquiet into a more serious internal challenge for the ruling party”, sources added.
Moreover, in a late night development NC has reinstated Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar, Cabinet Minister, as the general secretary of the party, the post which was earlier offered to disgruntle MLA Mubarak Gul.
Earlier, NC appointed Gul, the six-time MLA from the Eidgah seat, as general secretary, replacing Sagar after the latter was inducted into the council of ministers on Tuesday.
Gul had publicly expressed displeasure over being left out of the council of ministers, and to quell the discontent, the NC president appointed Gul as the party's new general secretary.
However, as Gul did not take up the party post and remained miffed with the party leadership, Abdullah on Friday asked Sagar to continue discharging the duties as the party's general secretary until further orders.
"Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah has ordered that Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar shall continue to function as the general secretary of the party until further orders," the party said in a post on X.
