Srinagar, Nov 6 (NVI) A group of disgruntled MLAs of the ruling National Conference (NC) today had to eat the humble pie as their demands were categorically rejected by party President Farooq Abdullah and his Chief Minister son Omar Abdullah.
The unhappy MLAs, claimed to be 25 out of the total of 42 in the 90-member Assembly, met the Abdullahs to convey their demands, which mainly included resetting of the recently-expanded Council of Ministers and sacking of the Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Sogami.
After holding a meeting with the Abdullah father-son duo, the legislators claimed that the leadership had agreed to address their demands.
MLA Mubarak Gul, who has been leading the pack of unhappy MLAs, told reporters after the meeting that they would continue to remain in the party and work with the party leadership.
Speaking in the presence of the Abdullahs, he dismissed speculation about desertion by any legislator and claimed that the leadership had agreed to address their concerns.
However, later it emerged that the Abdullahs outrightly rejected any changes in the Council of Ministers and turned down the demand for sacking of Sogami as the CM’s Advisor.
The disgruntled MLAs were told that choosing of Ministers as well as Advisor was the sole prerogative of the Chief Minister and there would be no compromise on this.
At the same time, the leadership may look into the minor demands of the MLAs. (NVI)
