Days after talks with NC ‘rebels’, Farooq moots advisory groups for ministers

SRINAGAR: Days after 15 of 25 “rebel” National Conference (NC) legislators called for replacing all eight J&K cabinet ministers and removing CM Omar Abdullah’s adviser, party president Farooq Abdullah announced Tuesday an informal advisory group of MLAs for each minister.Sources said Farooq wrote to all NC MLAs, describing the advisory group as a “as a bridge between the party and govt”. One of the “rebel” MLAs said such an advisory group had been suggested during Friday’s damage-control meeting held with the dissidents at Farooq’s home. NC has 41 MLAs in the 90-member J&K assembly and is backed by six of Congress and as many Independents.Farooq’s letter says ministers in Omar’s team will be asked to hold regular meetings with “their advisory groups”, keeping them informed about major policy initiatives and progress in their departments.The letter indicates that NC legislators will be placed with cabinet members of their choice and asks them to provide in writing “three ministers in order of preference”. The list will be finalised once the preferences are handed in.“The letter has been sent to all MLAs of NC, not just to specific legislators. There is no rebellion. Projecting some differences as a rebellion is wrong. The party is united,” NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said.

MLA Abdul Majeed Bhat Larami, who was among those who attended Friday’s meeting, confirmed that the idea of an advisory council had been proposed during the negotiations that day. “I am glad it has been accepted and I see it as the beginning of change,” Larami told TOI.

At the meeting, the “rebels” had given the NC leadership 15 days to accept key demands like replacement of all ministers and CM Omar’s adviser Nasir Aslam Wani.

Farooq had described the demands as “genuine”.During the two-hour meeting, Omar had offered to resign several times, construing criticism of his ministers and Wani akin to questioning his leadership and walking out at least three times before being persuaded to return, sources said. This was the first time in nearly four decades that NC legislators openly challenged the leadership, sparking a crisis for the Omar-led govt.