Party Revolt: National Conference Faces Dissent as 18 MLAs Reportedly Seek Meeting With Farooq Abdullah

The National Conference is reportedly facing internal discontent in Jammu and Kashmir, with more than 18 MLAs said to have held a separate secret meeting to discuss their grievances. Dissatisfied legislators, including Mubarak Gul, Abdul Majeed Larmi and Nazir Gurezi, reportedly want senior leaders to be inducted into the cabinet and existing ministers to be removed. They have also raised objections to the functioning of the government and the role of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s political advisers. Some MLAs are reportedly demanding the removal of the Deputy Chief Minister. The legislators are expected to meet party president Farooq Abdullah and present their concerns, although the National Conference has officially denied reports of a rebellion or party split. Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah’s reported second marriage to Nidhi Razdan has triggered a separate controversy. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi has called the marriage illegitimate from his interpretation of Islamic law, arguing that Nidhi Razdan should have converted to Islam before the marriage. The discussion questions the Maulana’s intervention, noting that the controversy has emerged despite no major objection being reported locally in Kashmir.