Lawmakers press for changes
NDTV reported that dissident legislators gathered Friday at MLA Qaisar Jamshid Lone's home in Srinagar. At least 18 attended in person, while six participated by video conference, putting the reported group at 24.
The lawmakers agreed to seek the removal of Nasir Aslam Wani, an advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, according to NDTV. Their other demands were to drop ministers who had served two years and comprehensively restructure the Council of Ministers.
A separate report by Dainik Jagran English put the number of dissenting National Conference MLAs at 25 and said they had given the leadership 14 days to address their demands. They reportedly warned that they could approach the Raj Bhavan and withdraw their legislative support if the deadline passed without action. The reports differ on the group's size.
Cabinet changes and a rejected party post
The dispute follows Omar Abdullah's October 27, 2026, cabinet expansion and reshuffle. Four National Conference legislators joined the cabinet: Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani, also known as Altaf Kaloo. Independent MLA Satish Sharma was dropped.
Those changes brought the Council of Ministers to nine members, including the chief minister, reaching its permitted limit, according to Dainik Jagran English.
Farooq Abdullah also chose Mubarak Gul to succeed Sagar as the party's general secretary after Sagar entered the cabinet. The Indian Express described the appointment as an apparent effort to ease discontent, but Gul declined the position.
Assembly support and an announced resignation
The National Conference holds 41 seats in Jammu and Kashmir's 90-member Assembly, according to NDTV. It formed the government with backing from Congress, which has six MLAs, as well as smaller parties and independents.
Separately, Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced plans to leave the National Conference and resign his Lok Sabha seat on November 3, 2026. According to Dainik Jagran English, he accused the leadership of moving away from the party's ideological commitments and election promises, particularly those concerning Article 370 and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.
