National Conference plans advisory councils of MLAs to address internal dissent

To address internal dissent in the party, ruling National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday (November 10, 2026) started reaching out to party legislators, offering them places in advisory councils that will work with Ministers.

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An NC leader, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Hindu that Mr. Abdullah, who chaired a meeting of 17 dissenting legislators on November 6, has decided to constitute the councils. The NC has 42 legislators in the 90-member Assembly, while the Omar Abdullah government is also supported by four Independent MLAs.   

In letters to legislators, Dr. Abdullah described the proposed councils as “a bridge between the party and the government”. Party sources said the mandate of these advisory councils will be to hold “regular meetings with Ministers on policy decisions and to take stock of the functioning of the departments”.

The move seems to be aimed at addressing the concerns within the party that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is surrounded by only a small group of individuals. It will also give the legislators, who could not be inducted into the Cabinet on October 27, a role in the government's decision-making process. The MLAs will get to choose the Ministers they intend to work with and cannot be members of more than two advisory councils, party sources said.  

Another NC leader, who also did not wish to disclose his name, said letters have not yet been sent to all legislators. “Not all MLAs have been informed about the composition of the councils. However, we expect it soon,” the leader said.

Major political upheaval

The party witnessed a major political upheaval after the Cabinet expansion, with around 17 legislators holding a separate meeting and subsequently drafting a 10-point charter of demands. It called for a time-bound implementation of the election manifesto and intensification of the struggle for the restoration of Statehood and special status.

The discontent was evident when recently inducted Minister Mir Saifullah, in his maiden speech in Kupwara on Monday, reiterated the party’s commitment to fighting for the restoration of the pre-1953 position, Article 370 and Statehood. 

Besides, the dissenting legislators also called for the constitution of a high-powered disciplinary committee, immediate organisational reforms, the establishment of an election cell, and regular meetings of the State Working Committee of the party.

“There have to be sustained measures by the top leadership to do a course correction within the party. We welcome the first step. However, many demands remain unaddressed,” said another party leader.

Dr. Abdullah, during the recent meeting with lawmakers, had promised a step-by-step approach to addressing their concerns.