Cabinet reshuffle sparks dissent, 21 NC MLAs hold meeting in Srinagar

Around 21 National Conference (NC) legislators, including senior leaders Mubarak Gul and Abdul Majeed Larmi, held a closed-door meeting at the residence of party MLA Qaisar Jamsheed Lone in Srinagar on Friday amid growing discontent over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent Cabinet reshuffle.

Sources told The Decifer, that the legislators expressed displeasure over the ministerial appointments and discussed their concerns regarding the composition of the Council of Ministers.

Sources added that a few MLAs from this dissenting group also reached out to Srinagar MP Agha Ruhullah Mehdi for his backing but he didn’t entertain them.

The meeting comes days after Omar Abdullah expanded his Cabinet on October 27, inducting four legislators into the government. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar.

Those inducted into the Cabinet included Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo.

The expansion triggered resentment among several senior party legislators who were reportedly expecting ministerial positions but were left out of the reshuffle.

Among those who have publicly expressed disappointment is Abdul Majeed Larmi, who had indicated that he deserved a Cabinet berth. Mubarak Gul, another senior party leader, was also among those reportedly dissatisfied with the appointments.