Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference has moved to put out the fire within its own ranks. On Friday, November 6, party president Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sat down with a group of unhappy NC legislators in Srinagar, and after a meeting that lasted nearly two hours, Farooq declared that the party was united and that talk of a split was false.
He admitted the MLAs' complaints were genuine and promised that some would be addressed immediately while others would take time. The party also used the moment to reaffirm its commitment to the restoration of statehood and Articles 370 and 35A.
Why the NC MLAs Were Upset
The unrest followed the recent expansion of Omar Abdullah's Council of Ministers. A section of NC legislators was unhappy with the choice of faces in that expansion and complained about inadequate consultation and uneven political representation.
Reports say their concerns ranged from governance and access to ministers to the party's internal functioning and the implementation of election promises. Some legislators also flagged what they described as a disconnect between the government and the people, and a section wanted the party to push more aggressively for the restoration of Article 370. The MLAs are understood to have put their grievances in writing in a memorandum, and according to some reports, they had set a two-week deadline for action.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, November 6, 2026 |
| Place | Srinagar |
| Leaders present | Farooq Abdullah (NC president), Omar Abdullah (CM) |
| Duration | Nearly two hours |
| Trigger | Recent expansion of the J&K Council of Ministers |
| Key demands | Better consultation, access to ministers, governance, poll promises |
| Outcome | Grievances called genuine; some steps now, others in phases |
| Political line | Fight for statehood, Article 370 and 35A to continue |
What Farooq Abdullah Said
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, a visibly confident Farooq Abdullah dismissed reports of a rift. He described the National Conference as a "Jamaat", an organisation that has never broken and never will, and said those hoping to split it were mistaken.
He said the party had sat together as a family and that the legislators had spoken candidly. "Their problems were genuine, they were listened to very well," he said, adding that some steps would be taken quickly and some slowly, and that the aim was to strengthen both the party and the government so that people's problems are resolved.
On the party's core political agenda, Farooq was clear: the NC's fight for statehood would continue, and so would its fight for Article 370 and Article 35A.
What the MLAs Said After the Meeting
The legislators who walked out of the meeting struck a calmer tone. Gurez MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, who spoke for the group, said they had been assured that some issues, political or otherwise, would be addressed immediately and others gradually. He played down talk of rebellion, saying every party has internal discussions, that NC legislators always take their issues to the leadership, and that no separate group had emerged from the party.
Bijbehara MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri said the party had not retreated from its stand on Article 370 and remained committed to it. He also hinted at visible changes, saying people would see in the coming days how strongly the party pursues the restoration of statehood.
Independent legislators who had been part of the wider dissenting group were not invited to the meeting.
The Ruhullah Mehdi Factor
The meeting came just days after one of the NC's best-known faces, Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, announced on November 3 that he was quitting both the party and his Lok Sabha seat. His resignation was accepted with effect from that date. Mehdi had long argued that the party needed a more assertive, uncompromising stand on Article 370, 35A and the political rights of the people of J&K.
NC leaders described his exit as an individual political choice. But coming alongside the MLAs' unrest, it had fuelled speculation that the party was under real strain, which is exactly what Friday's show of unity was meant to counter.
What It Means for J&K
The NC leads the government in Jammu and Kashmir, so any instability within the party directly affects governance in the Union Territory. For now, the leadership appears to have bought time by acknowledging the complaints rather than brushing them aside. The real test will be what follows: whether there are changes in the council of ministers or portfolios, and whether the legislators feel their concerns are being acted on.
What Happens Next
All eyes will be on the "immediate steps" Farooq Abdullah promised. If the government makes visible moves in the coming days, the dissent may settle down. If not, the deadline some legislators are reported to have set could bring the issue back into the open. The NC's renewed messaging on statehood and Article 370 will also be watched closely by rival parties in the Valley.
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