Srinagar, Nov 7: The National Conference leadership has sought one year to consider a cabinet reshuffle and proposed associating four legislators with each minister through departmental consultative groups, even as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reportedly offered to step down during a tense meeting with party MLAs on Friday.
A prominent National Conference legislator who attended the meeting told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the discussions with party president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah centred on grievances raised by legislators and the need for greater coordination between ministers and elected representatives.
“The party leadership has sought one year for a cabinet reshuffle. It was also proposed that a consultative group comprising four MLAs would be associated with each minister in the respective departments,” the legislator told KNS, requesting anonymity.
The MLA said the proposed arrangement was aimed at ensuring that legislators remained involved in departmental consultations and had a direct channel to raise issues concerning their constituencies.
According to the legislator, the meeting also discussed the appointment of an additional advisor to the Chief Minister from the Jammu region.
“The proposal for one more advisor from Jammu was discussed during the meeting,” the MLA said, adding that no appointment had been finalised.
The legislator further disclosed that the meeting witnessed tense moments when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed frustration over the pressure he was facing.
“Omar Sahib stood up and tried to leave the meeting. He said he was under pressure and was prepared to resign. He even said that any other legislator could be made Chief Minister,” the MLA told KNS.
The legislator said the remarks prompted those present to reassure Omar that they were not seeking a change in leadership.
“We made it clear that we were not against him. Our concerns were about certain issues that needed to be addressed, not about replacing the Chief Minister,” the MLA said.
The meeting came days after a group of National Conference legislators held consultations over the functioning of the government and subsequently placed an eight-point memorandum before the party leadership.
The legislators had raised issues relating to the implementation of election promises, restoration of statehood and special status, cabinet restructuring, coordination between ministers and MLAs, and organisational matters.
The discussions followed a series of meetings among party legislators which had drawn attention to differences within the ruling party.
The recent cabinet exercise had also brought questions of ministerial representation and the role of legislators into sharper focus.
The MLA said Friday’s interaction provided an opportunity for the legislators to place their concerns directly before Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah.
While the leadership sought time on the demand for cabinet changes, the proposed consultative groups and the possibility of an additional advisor from Jammu emerged as key issues discussed during the meeting.
The legislator said the effectiveness of the assurances would depend on how the proposals were taken forward in the coming months. (KNS)
