Srinagar, May 31: Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah has convened a meeting of all party MLAs and independent legislators supporting the government on June 3 at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar, amid mounting governance concerns, continued uncertainty over restoration of statehood and intensifying political speculation surrounding the stability of the ruling dispensation.
The meeting assumes political significance as it has been called barely a month after the ruling NC held its high-level Working Committee meeting in Srinagar on May 7 under the chairmanship of party president Farooq Abdullah, where senior leaders and legislators reviewed governance, political developments, and organisational matters.
The June 3 meeting, to be chaired by the Chief Minister, has been described by party insiders as a serious political and administrative exercise rather than a routine consultation, particularly because such interactions involving legislators are not usually convened in quick succession.
Invitations have been issued to all NC MLAs and four independent legislators supporting the government, asking them to attend what has been termed an “important meeting” at Gupkar.
According to the invitation, the meeting will deliberate upon matters of “collective importance” and “issues concerning public welfare.”
Attendance has been made mandatory for invitees.
Significantly, Congress legislators supporting the Omar Abdullah-led government have not, so far, been invited to the meeting, though party insiders privately downplayed any political reading into the development and maintained that the consultation is primarily aimed at taking stock of internal governance and constituency-level concerns.
The absence of a formally circulated agenda has nevertheless fuelled speculation in political circles over the purpose and timing of the meeting, particularly in the backdrop of recent sharp political exchanges and comments by opposition leaders questioning the stability of the government.
As speculation intensified, Omar Abdullah himself stepped in publicly and appeared to dismiss political commentary surrounding the meeting through a post on social media platform X, taking an apparent swipe at opposition leaders and commentators.
“I love how the people who know the least about the meeting I’ve called with my MLAs are talking the most. Remember one thing — those who know don’t speak and those who speak sit in the opposition,” he wrote.
Political observers view the post as a pointed response to repeated assertions by opposition BJP leaders, particularly Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who has recently claimed that the Omar Abdullah-led government could collapse and alleged that several ruling alliance legislators were on the verge of “jumping ship.”
Party legislators, however, dismissed suggestions that the meeting was being convened in response to political instability or for any immediate organisational repositioning.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, an NC legislator termed the meeting “significant,” noting that such consultations are uncommon within a short span of time.
“Barely a month ago, the NC Working Committee meeting was held in Srinagar and chaired by Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab. Now another meeting has been called by the Chief Minister involving all MLAs. Though no agenda has been shared with us, the meeting gains significance because it is the second such interaction within one month. Normally, such meetings are not held so frequently,” the legislator said.
The legislator, however, dismissed speculation that the Chief Minister was likely to adopt a sharper political posture following his recent politically charged remarks during a public rally in Tangmarg.
“I have no knowledge about that. Mostly, this is going to be about governance issues. Over a period of time, MLAs have raised several concerns. It has been around one and a half years since the NC-led government assumed office and legislators have constituency-related matters, development concerns and public issues that need to be discussed,” said another MLA who wished not to be named.
According to legislators, the meeting is expected to provide party MLAs an opportunity to directly flag constituency-level grievances, developmental bottlenecks, public complaints and administrative concerns before the Chief Minister.
Another NC legislator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the timing of the meeting was particularly important because of continued uncertainty over restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and increasing political pressure at the grassroots level.
“The Chief Minister is trying to preserve the political space and take stock of the prevailing situation because restoration of statehood has still not happened. There is no clear indication from the Centre on when it will happen. At the same time, there is growing anguish among people and MLAs are also feeling pressure in their constituencies,” the legislator said.
The MLA said developmental concerns and governance-related complaints are also expected to figure prominently during deliberations.
“There are routine developmental issues, constituency matters and concerns regarding ministries where some MLAs have complaints over the functioning of ministers or discrepancies in work execution in their areas. The Chief Minister wants to hear directly from MLAs and assess these concerns,” he said.
Another NC legislator described the June 3 interaction as “not routine” and said it was intended as a serious internal exercise aimed at understanding emerging political and governance challenges.
“As the invitation suggests, the Chief Minister wants to hear from all MLAs the problems and issues faced by people here,” the legislator said, requesting anonymity.
While legislators privately ruled out any major political announcement or organisational reshuffle emerging from the meeting, they maintained that the consultation is expected to focus on governance coordination, constituency concerns, administrative responsiveness and evolving political sentiment at a time when expectations around statehood restoration continue to remain unfulfilled.
Within political circles, however, the timing of the meeting is being closely watched — not only because it comes barely weeks after the NC Working Committee deliberations, but also because it takes place against a backdrop of statehood uncertainty, opposition attacks and growing pressure on legislators to respond to local grievances.
NC PRESIDENT, CM TO REVIEW GOVT PERFORMANCE DURING MEET ON JUNE 3: DEPUTY CM
Deputy Chief Minister SurinderChoudhary on Sunday asserted that the meeting called by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar on June 3 would be an exercise to “infuse and fix accountability” among the ministers and MLAs besides taking a call on governance-related issues.
“Yes, statehood is a lingering issue which is obstructing governance. Issue needs to be deliberated as J&K, which given its topography, governance or related issues fits the bill only as a State, however, it gets funding as UT. Our hands are tied in case of governance issues as well. We cannot even appoint a daily wager. That is adding to a plethora of governance issues. De-freezing of posts is a significant issue to be discussed,” Choudhary said about the much-hyped MLAs’ meeting called by the Chief Minister on June 3 in the summer capital.
He was responding to media queries after inaugurating a double-lane bridge at Greater Kailash here in Jammu.
What will be the agenda of the meeting about which it is being speculated that it is aimed at forming a strategy on statehood and reviewing governance vis-à-vis ministers’ performance?
The Deputy Chief Minister, responding to this question, linked the meeting to “an exercise aimed at infusing accountability.”
“It’s a good exercise. The accountability, whether it relates to the ministers or MLAs, should be fixed. Our National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and our Chief Minister believe that the ministers are accountable and that’s why they have called the meeting. They will ask the ministers about their performance and that of departments under their charge. Similarly, the assessment of MLAs in their respective constituencies will be made,” he said.
When his attention was drawn towards the Chief Minister’s recent “cloud-bursting” statement, hinting at some “big action after Eid-ul-Adha”, Choudhary sought to downplay it.
“See, the cloud bursts where it has to and when it has to. So, just wait and watch - what happens and when it happens?” he remarked.
When the Deputy Chief Minister’s reaction was sought about the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma’s statement with reference to the upcoming (NC) meeting that “NC government’s countdown has begun”, he threw a poser.
“I need to remind LoP Sunil Sharma. This is not UP or Bihar. This is Jammu and Kashmir which has witnessed terrorism for 36 years. Here every house has an unemployed youth. Youth are looking for employment. Today he is talking about the imminent collapse of the government; he is questioning the performance of our government. They (BJP) were in the government. Sunil Sharma, himself, was a sports minister. Why did he not regularise youth working under “Rehbar-e-Khel” who had been seeking regularisation for a long time?” the Deputy Chief Minister answered.
He asserted that the youth in J&K were not bothered about the countdown of a government but employment. In the same breath, he took a dig at former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina and his bete-noire for his viral “cockroach act.”
Deputy Chief Minister had defeated Raina in 2024 assembly elections from Nowshera constituency.
“Nowshera people made him eat a humble pie once. Now let him (Raina) wait, cockroaches will follow him everywhere,” Choudhary mocked.
He reiterated that the government led by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was committed to work for public welfare only across J&K, irrespective of electoral politics.
“BJP people are bothered only about their names on the plaques and not about people’s sufferings. We are dedicated to creating facilities here. My Chief Minister gave me an opportunity to serve people and I got this bridge constructed. I've also instructed the construction of a road here also. I don’t want to indulge in the politics of crowd-gathering. Had it been the issue, I would have gathered thousands of people here. None should challenge me on that account,” he said, while responding to a query about “low profile inauguration ceremony.”
Referring to a protest in the area by his political detractors about the “missing name of MLA in inauguration plaque”, the Deputy Chief Minister questioned the BJP leaders’ silence on the alleged remarks of the West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) about the cattle slaughter.
“Did any media person ask them (BJP leaders) about (West Bengal CM) Suvendu Adhikari’s statement about cattle slaughter?” Choudhary questioned.
With regard to the double-lane bridge inaugurated, he said that its construction work had been lying unattended for long, causing great inconvenience to the inhabitants in the area.
“This bridge over nullah lies near my house. I used to come here for my daily morning walk. It was in dilapidated condition When I became the Deputy Chief Minister, the work on this bridge was stalled. None had bothered to repair it,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He said that he called his officers and instructed them to start construction work as it was a very vital bridge.
“People were forced to wade through nullah to cross it in the absence of a bridge. A large chunk of population was disconnected as this bridge used to connect the entire Greater Kailash area. So after taking over as the Deputy Chief Minister, I ordered the officers to initiate work. I’m happy to inaugurate it today.” The Deputy Chief Minister said.
He said that he did not believe in the “politics of plaques.”
“Yes, my house is nearby. I did not oblige anyone as I used to see people suffer in the absence of a bridge. The objective was to construct the bridge to facilitate people who had been disconnected for quite long. Why did BJP people not construct this bridge when they were in power for the past 10 years or so? I’m not bothered whose name has been inscribed on the plaque and whose name has not been there. I don’t want to indulge in this politics,” he stated, while responding to a related query.
Obliquely referring to opposition leaders, Choudhary said that the affected people had come to him (Choudhary) with an application and he delivered it, acceding to their request.
“There are people who come here for politicking. They create drama to serve their political interests. If people want their works to be done, they should approach me, speak to me. Besides being the Deputy Chief Minister, I’m in-charge PWD minister. However, those who come here for politicking, I want to assert that we have ample time for that till the 2029 elections,” he mocked.
Aiming another barb at his political detractors, the Deputy Chief Minister said that he believed in the politics based on public welfare.
“Our politics should be based on the works (for people) and not on slogans. Those, who worked for people, would get votes next time and those, who did not, would face drubbing,” he warned.
