Srinagar, Oct 31: The ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir is facing turmoil over the recent cabinet expansion with a group of at least 20 disgruntled legislators preparing a charter of demands seeking a comprehensive cabinet reshuffle, removal of CM’s advisors and a time-bound implementation of the party’s election promises and aggressive stand on Article 370 restoration.

Sources said a memorandum was drafted during a meeting of 20 NC legislators at Srinagar residence of party MLA from Lolab, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, on Friday.
The memorandum calls for intensified political efforts for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and Article 370.
Sources said the memorandum had been sent to party’s top leadership including Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Among the key demands are the removal of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and Shammi Oberoi, a comprehensive restructuring of the Council of Ministers and the removal of ministers who have completed two years in office.
The legislators have also sought the implementation of decisions taken at a meeting chaired by Omar Abdullah at Dachigam on June 3, where concerns were reportedly raised over the functioning of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and ministers Javid Rana and Satish Sharma.
While Sharma was dropped in the October 27 cabinet reshuffle, Rana lost key portfolios.
However, Choudhary retained the Roads and Buildings and Industries and Commerce departments.
The memorandum also calls for the time-bound fulfilment of promises made in the party's 2024 Assembly election manifesto and a more forceful political struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
A disgruntled legislator said they enjoyed the support of more than 25 legislators and maintained that their objective was to reform the party rather than challenge its leadership.
"We are the National Conference, and we have given our blood and sweat to the party for the past 30 years. We will not allow the party to be hijacked by a few people or turned into a corporate entity," he said.
However, NC Kashmir Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir today dismissed reports of a revolt, describing Friday’s gathering as an informal meeting held in a friendly atmosphere.
Addressing a press conference, Mir said an MLA had invited colleagues for lunch and discussions on the prevailing political situation ahead of the shifting of offices to Jammu.
He acknowledged that several legislators were disappointed after being left out of the cabinet expansion but said the Chief Minister had limited berths available.
Omar inducted four NC legislators—Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shamima Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo)—into the Council of Ministers on October 27.
Mir said the party had around 22 to 24 legislators who could potentially be accommodated in the government and expressed hope that the cabinet could be expanded further if the Centre fulfilled its commitment to restore statehood.
He said some senior legislators had been nominated to meet Omar and convey their concerns, adding that differences within a democratic organisation were natural and should be resolved internally.
Mir also dismissed speculation over the general secretary’s post, following the party’s decision to ask Ali Mohammad Sagar to continue in the position after NC president Farooq Abdullah had appointed Mubarak Gul.
He said the decision was an administrative arrangement linked to the upcoming local body elections in Kargil, where the NC and the Islamic School of Kargil have agreed to contest all 17 seats under the NC banner.
The latest discontent comes amid Srinagar MP Ruhullah Mehdi announcing that he would resign from both the National Conference and his Lok Sabha seat on November 3, 2026, potentially triggering a by-election in the parliamentary constituency.