Srinagar, October 31: National Conference (NC) legislators reportedly dissatisfied with Tuesday’s cabinet reshuffle have prepared a memorandum outlining several demands, including a fresh cabinet restructuring, intensified efforts for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and Article 370, and time-bound implementation of the party’s 2024 election manifesto.
Sources said the memorandum was sent to the residences of the party’s senior leadership. However, the National Conference has not yet confirmed receiving it.
The memorandum was drafted during a meeting of 18 MLAs held at the residence of NC legislator Qaiser Jamsheed Lone in Lolab on Friday afternoon.
According to sources, the legislators have called for the time-bound implementation of the party’s election manifesto and an intensified political struggle for the restoration of statehood and Article 370.
They have also demanded the removal of party advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and ministers who have completed two years in office.
The memorandum further calls for a comprehensive restructuring of the Cabinet and implementation of the consensus reached during a meeting at Dachigam.
During a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam on June 3, NC legislators had reportedly raised questions about the functioning of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and ministers Javed Ahmed Rana and Satish Sharma.
While Satish Sharma was dropped in the recent cabinet reshuffle, Javed Ahmed Rana’s responsibilities were curtailed after several key portfolios were withdrawn from him. However, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary retained the Roads and Buildings Department and the Industries and Commerce Department.
A legislator associated with the group claimed that more than 25 MLAs supported their position, asserting that their objective was to bring reforms within the National Conference.
“We are the National Conference, and we have given our blood and sweat to the party for the past 30 years. We will not allow the party to be hijacked by a few people or turned into a corporate entity,” the legislator said.
Another legislator alleged that a minister who had faced strong criticism during the Dachigam meeting had managed to retain key portfolios.
— (KNO)