NC leadership seeks one year for cabinet reshuffle, proposes greater role for MLAs

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.
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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