Cabinet expansion triggers dissent in NC

Srinagar, Oct 30: The growing discontent within the ruling National Conference (NC) over Tuesday’s cabinet expansion-cum-reshuffle came to the fore on Friday as 18 legislators, including 17 NC MLAs and one Independent member supporting the government, held a marathon meeting here to deliberate on their future course of action.
As many as 18 legislators met at the residence of Lolab MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone at Friends Enclave, Humhama Heights, here and held discussions for nearly five hours.
Sources said that the NC leadership became aware of the proposed meeting on Thursday evening and made attempts to persuade some legislators not to attend. However, several of those invited either did not respond to the calls or went ahead with their participation.
Apart from the host, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, the meeting was attended by Nazir Ahmad Gurezi (Gurez), Mubarak Gul (Eidgah), Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi (Pampore), Hilal Akbar Lone (Sonawari), Aijaz Jan (Poonch Haveli), Javaid Choudhary (Budhal), Muzaffar Khan (Thanamandi), Sajad Shafi (Uri), Javid Ahmad Mirchal (Karnah), Mohiuddin Mir (Rajpora), Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo (Chanapora), Er. Khurshied Ahmad (Gulabgarh), Arjun Singh Raju (Ramban), Abdul Majid Larmi (Anantnag West), Saifuddin Bhat (Khansahib), Bashir Ahmad Veeri (Bijbehara) and Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah(Tangmarg).
According to sources privy to the meeting, several legislators voiced strong reservations over the recent cabinet expansion.
During the discussion, an MLA from the Pir Panjal region accused a serving minister of amassing enormous wealth through corrupt practices.
“The consensus reached at Dachigam has not been implemented. Those who were expected to be sacked from the Council of Ministers continue to hold their positions,” a legislator said.
Another MLA from south Kashmir claimed to possess evidence linking a recently inducted minister to corrupt activities.
Sources further said the legislators demanded the removal of all four ministers who had taken oath when the government was formed in October 2024.
“They have completed two years in office and should now be replaced by new faces,” an MLA was quoted as saying during the deliberations. The legislators also reportedly sought the removal of Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Finance Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Javed Ahmad Rana, and Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo were among those who took oath when the government was formed in October 2024 and have since completed two years in office. Former minister Satish Sharma, who had also completed two years, was recently dropped from the Council of Ministers.
The legislators also demanded the constitution of a parliamentary board to decide future cabinet inductions.
According to sources, the group is planning to meet the NC’s top leadership in the coming days to place its demands before the party high command. (KNO)