Two-hour Gupkar meeting brings disgruntled MLAs into line; CM asserts authority over Cabinet, portfolios, political appointments
Firdous Ahmad
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: What appeared to be a brewing revolt within the ruling National Conference has ended, at least for now, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah firmly reasserting his authority over the party’s legislators and government, while Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Sogami have emerged politically stronger from the confrontation.
A two-hour meeting at the Gupkar residence of NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday appears to have brought the simmering discontent among a section of party MLAs under control, with the party leadership making it clear that internal grievances could not be pursued through parallel meetings, public posturing or attempts to dictate decisions on government appointments.
The development marks a significant moment for Omar Abdullah’s leadership, particularly at a time when dissatisfaction among legislators had begun spilling into the public domain, raising questions about internal cohesion within the ruling party.
The discontented group, which reportedly claimed the support of around 25 MLAs, had earlier held a meeting at the Srinagar residence of Lolab MLA Qaisar Jamsheed Lone. The group was reportedly unhappy with certain ministerial appointments and administrative arrangements, with Choudhary and Sogami emerging as particular targets of criticism.
There were also reports that the legislators had given the party leadership a two-week deadline to address their grievances, although the group has not officially confirmed the reported ultimatum.
Friday’s meeting, however, appears to have fundamentally altered the political equation.
Sources familiar with the proceedings said Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah acknowledged that some of the concerns raised by legislators deserved consideration. However, the leadership simultaneously drew a firm boundary, conveying that dissatisfaction could not become a parallel power centre within the party or undermine the functioning of the elected government.
Omar, according to sources, made it clear that the selection of ministers, appointment of advisors and allocation of portfolios fell within the Chief Minister’s prerogative. He was reportedly categorical that he would not accept pressure or dictation from groups of legislators on such decisions.
In an emphatic assertion of his authority, the Chief Minister is also said to have threatened to resign and walked out of the meeting on more than one occasion, signalling that he was unwilling to negotiate his constitutional and political prerogatives under pressure.
The message appears to have registered. Some legislators reportedly softened their positions, while others were seen accompanying Dr Farooq Abdullah to Hazratbal for Friday prayers after the meeting.
The absence of any immediate escalation following the meeting suggests that the leadership has succeeded in containing the challenge, even if the underlying grievances have not necessarily disappeared.
Choudhary and Sogami’s political gains
The most immediate beneficiaries of the episode appear to be Choudhary and Sogami.
For Choudhary, the confrontation has effectively strengthened his position in the government at a time when his continuation as Deputy Chief Minister and retention of the Roads and Buildings portfolio were reportedly being questioned by a section of legislators from the Jammu region, particularly the Pir Panjal belt.
Choudhary’s elevation as Deputy Chief Minister was widely viewed as a significant political statement by the NC, given his victory against former BJP J&K president Ravinder Raina. He has also been among the party’s most vocal political faces in its confrontation with the BJP, particularly over the abrogation of Article 370.
Reports had suggested that some legislators from the region had conveyed their dissatisfaction with Choudhary to the Chief Minister through a communication containing several allegations and had sought either his removal or a change in his portfolio.
However, his retention as Deputy Chief Minister with the R&B portfolio during the recent Cabinet expansion, followed by the leadership’s firm response to the dissenting legislators, indicates that the Chief Minister is not inclined to reconsider his position under internal pressure.
Sogami’s political position has also received a boost.
His appointment as Advisor to the Chief Minister with Cabinet rank had reportedly generated resentment among a section of party workers and legislators in north Kashmir, where his political rise has been viewed by some as coming at the expense of established local political figures.
Interestingly, Sogami and Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, at whose residence the disgruntled legislators had reportedly assembled, belong to Sogam village in Kupwara and are considered political rivals within the NC’s local political landscape.
The rivalry has acquired an additional dimension following Sogami’s elevation to a position that gives him access to the Chief Minister’s office and an influential role in government affairs.
The resentment reportedly became more visible after Sogami, as Chief Guest, unfurled the national flag at Kupwara on Independence Day, an occasion that some local political observers viewed as another indication of his growing prominence.
Sogami’s political journey has also become a subject of discussion among his critics. He won the Amirakadal Assembly constituency in 2008 with around 3,900 votes but subsequently lost elections in 2014 and 2024. In the 2024 Assembly elections, he lost from Kupwara, while Lone secured the Lolab seat with a margin of approximately 7,800 votes.
His detractors have questioned the political rationale behind his repeated elevation to important government positions despite his electoral defeats. They have also raised objections to the extent of his administrative influence as an Advisor with Cabinet rank, particularly regarding his access to files and the functioning of different departments.
These criticisms, however, have not translated into any visible change in the Chief Minister’s position on Sogami.
The bigger political message
Beyond the immediate survival of two politically influential figures, the Gupkar meeting carries a larger message about the balance of power within the National Conference.
The episode has exposed the challenges of managing a party with competing regional interests, local political rivalries and expectations of ministerial representation after coming to power.
For legislators, electoral victories often translate into expectations of political influence, administrative access and a meaningful role in decision-making. When such expectations remain unmet, dissatisfaction can quickly turn into organised pressure, particularly in a government where several legislators may feel excluded from the inner circle.
But Omar Abdullah’s response suggests that he is unwilling to allow collective pressure from legislators to determine the composition or functioning of his government.
In political terms, the Chief Minister has drawn a distinction between listening to party legislators and surrendering decision-making authority to them.
The distinction is important. While the leadership has acknowledged that some grievances may be genuine, the manner in which the meeting concluded indicates that the party’s top brass considers the method adopted by the dissenting group unacceptable.
The episode also provided an opportunity for the opposition BJP to highlight divisions within the ruling party. However, with the legislators apparently retreating from their confrontational posture, the immediate political advantage of the episode may have shifted back to the NC leadership.
Whether the apparent calm translates into lasting reconciliation remains to be seen. The grievances surrounding ministerial representation, administrative influence and regional political balance are unlikely to disappear merely because a meeting has ended.
For now, however, the political outcome is unmistakable: Omar Abdullah has reinforced his authority, while Choudhary and Sogami have survived an organised challenge to their positions.
The bigger test for the Chief Minister will be whether he can convert this show of authority into better internal coordination and ensure that disgruntled legislators are given a meaningful political space without allowing competing power centres to emerge within the government.
