Gul Says ‘dropped again’, cites special assurance from Farooq Abdullah
Larmi Says ‘My heart is broken’ over exclusion
CM’s Advisor Says “Excluded legislators have right to be angry”
Srinagar | Oct, 27: The National Conference’s cabinet expansion on Tuesday triggered visible dissent within the ruling party, with supporters of senior leader Mubarak Ahmad Gul staging a protest at the party headquarters, MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi breaking down over his exclusion and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani acknowledging resentment among legislators left out of the government. The discontent emerged hours after four National Conference legislators—Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamim Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Wani, popularly known as Altaf Kaloo—were sworn in as ministers at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar. The expansion brought the Council of Ministers to its maximum permissible strength of nine, including the Chief Minister, but also sharpened questions over the accommodation of senior leaders who did not make it to the Cabinet. At the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh Complex, Gul’s supporters raised slogans against his exclusion and gave the leadership two days to address their demand for his induction as a minister. Some workers questioned the party high command’s decision to induct four other legislators while leaving out the six-time MLA, arguing that his long association with the party and political experience deserved recognition. One supporter said the workers would seek Gul’s resignation from the party post if the leadership failed to respond to their demand. Others expressed solidarity with the position taken by senior party leader Aga Ruhullah, reflecting the growing unease among a section of the cadre over the distribution of ministerial berths. Addressing the supporters later in the day, Mubarak Gul urged them to give him time, saying he had held a one-to-one conversation with National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and received a special assurance from him. “I have spoken to Farooq Sahib one-to-one. He has given me a special assurance. When the document comes, I will share it with you,” Gul said in a video that circulated publicly. He did not disclose the nature of the assurance, saying he would reveal the details at an appropriate time.
Earlier, Gul had openly expressed disappointment over his continued exclusion from the Cabinet, saying he had attended nearly 30 oath-taking ceremonies without being inducted as a minister. “I have attended 30 oath-taking ceremonies till now. Every time I was dropped, and today as well, I am being dropped,” he told reporters. Gul has represented Eidgah in the Legislative Assembly six times—in 1983, 1996, 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2024—and is among the party’s senior legislators.
Appointed general secretary after Sagar’s induction: In a parallel development, the National Conference leadership appointed Gul as the party’s general secretary, succeeding Ali Mohammad Sagar, who was inducted into the Council of Ministers. Dr Farooq Abdullah formally seated Gul in the general secretary’s chair at Nawa-i-Subh. Photographs shared by the party showed leaders and workers welcoming Gul and presenting him with garlands. Gul thanked the leadership for entrusting him with the organisational responsibility and said he would work to strengthen the party. However, the appointment failed to immediately pacify some of his supporters, who maintained that the veteran legislator deserved a ministerial berth. Later, a meeting of party leaders and functionaries was held under Dr Farooq Abdullah’s chairmanship to discuss organisational matters, the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the party’s future course. Addressing the gathering, the NC president reiterated the party’s commitment to democracy, people’s rights, the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, full statehood and the protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s distinct cultural identity. He expressed confidence that the newly inducted ministers would work for public welfare and development across sectors.
Larmi Says ‘my heart is broken’: Gul was not the only senior leader to express disappointment. Abdul Majeed Larmi, the National Conference MLA from Anantnag West, said he was deeply hurt after being left out of the Cabinet, although he reiterated his loyalty to the party. “My heart is broken. I was deserving,” Larmi told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony. He said he accepted the leadership’s decision but acknowledged that the exclusion had caused him considerable pain. Larmi claimed he had remained among the probable candidates until Monday evening and had even been informed about a possible portfolio. He said the reaction of his supporters had affected him deeply, with several workers reportedly breaking down after learning that he had not been inducted. His exclusion also prompted a protest in Anantnag, where supporters raised slogans against the party leadership and called for the decision to be reviewed. A video circulating on social media showed workers expressing anger over the move. Larmi won the 2014 Assembly election and returned to the Assembly in 2024 from Anantnag West, defeating PDP candidate Abdul Gaffar Sofi by 10,435 votes. ‘They have the right to be angry’, CM’s Advisor: Acknowledging the resentment, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani said ministerial ambitions among legislators were natural, but accommodating every aspirant was difficult under Jammu and Kashmir’s present administrative framework. “It’s obvious, as everybody has an ambition to become a minister, but we are facing challenges as we are in a Union Territory and have enough MLAs,” Wani told reporters. He said legislators who had not been inducted could understandably feel disappointed and had every right to express their anger. “There may be resentment or disappointment, and they have the right to be angry because they are the family,” he said, adding that people in every constituency wanted their elected representative to become a minister, but fulfilling every aspiration was not possible. On Gul, Wani referred to his appointment as party general secretary, saying he would now work in that capacity.
Four inducted as Cabinet reaches full strength: The political fallout followed the swearing-in of Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shamim Firdous, Mir Saifullah and Altaf Ahmad Wani at Lok Bhawan, where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy. Sagar, a seven-time legislator and senior party functionary, represents Khanyar in Srinagar. Firdous, a three-time MLA from Habba Kadal, adds to the party’s representation of women in the government. Mir Saifullah, a four-time legislator from Trehgam in Kupwara, brings prior ministerial experience, while Altaf Kaloo, the Pahalgam MLA, has entered the Council of Ministers for the first time. The expansion is the first major cabinet reshuffle since the National Conference returned to power following the 2024 Assembly elections. Under the applicable framework, the Council of Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir can comprise a maximum of nine members, including the Chief Minister.
