A group of dissident legislators from the ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir met for the fourth time on Thursday, 5 November 2025, sharpening their list of demands ahead of a critical meeting with party president Dr Farooq Abdullah scheduled for Friday. What began as resentment over cabinet exclusions has now been framed by the rebels as a 'larger cause to save the over 80-year-old political party'.

The Dissidents and Their Demands

The meeting was held at the residence of dissident NC MLA Mubarak Gul, who had earlier deferred a press conference but asserted he remained firm in his resolve. Other prominent disgruntled legislators include Abdul Majeed Larmi, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, and Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah. The group claims to represent 20 MLAs, though only 12 have publicly identified themselves so far.

Their grievances reportedly trace back to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's reshuffled cabinet, which the dissidents say overlooked their seniority and standing within the party. They are now presenting three core demands before the party high command.

The Three Non-Negotiable Demands

First, the dissidents want Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary either removed from the cabinet or stripped of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) portfolio, lodging corruption allegations against him. Second, they are demanding the removal of Nasir Aslam Wani, advisor to the Chief Minister, and an end to the influence of NC MP Shammi Oberoi over party affairs — both of whom are described as close allies of Omar Abdullah. Third, they want ministers who have served for two years to be dropped and replaced with fresh faces chosen in consultation with MLAs.

Sources close to Omar Abdullah have said that conceding to the first two demands 'would be more difficult for Omar Abdullah than asking him to step down as the Chief Minister.'

The Ruhullah Resignation and BJP's Shadow

The dissent within the NC has been complicated by the recent resignation of MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from both the party and the Lok Sabha. NC spokespersons Salman Sagar and Sajad Shaheen attributed the resignation to what they called 'Operation Lotus' — referring to alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) efforts to destabilise opposition parties. They cited remarks made by BJP national vice president Ram Madhav at Jammu on Tuesday, where he reportedly said Ruhullah was holding a rally with the blessings of 'our people.' Madhav, however, categorically denied that the BJP had any role in the latest developments within the NC.

The Arithmetic of Dissent

In the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the NC holds 41 seats and is supported by six Congress legislators, one CPI(M) member, and five Independents. Under anti-defection rules, dissident MLAs cannot form a breakaway group unless they represent at least two-thirds of the NC's legislative strength — meaning at least 28 MLAs would need to split. With only 12 faces having come forward publicly, the dissent, analysts note, is structurally constrained to remain an internal pressure campaign rather than a genuine split.

What Farooq Abdullah Is Expected to Do

Both Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have so far declined to publicly respond to the internal rebellion. Dr Abdullah is expected to use his considerable stature and unchallenged authority within the party to bring the dissidents to agreeable terms at Friday's meeting. How much the Abdullah family is willing to concede will determine whether this episode remains, as sources describe it, 'a storm in a teacup' — or escalates into something more consequential for the government's stability.