Omar Abdullah Convenes NC, Allies Legislative Emergency Meeting begins in Srinagar
Srinagar, 04-04-2025: The legislative party meeting of the National Conference (NC) and its alliance partners, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, convened in Srinagar on Friday amid mounting tensions between the Raj Bhavan and the six-month-old government in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, held at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary in Gupkar, was attended by NC president Farooq Abdullah, Cabinet ministers, all MLAs of the NC, and three Congress legislators led by chief whip Nizamuddin Bhat.
The unscheduled gathering of the alliance partners comes just two days before Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the Union Territory, where he is scheduled to review the security situation in light of the recent surge in terror-related incidents in the Kathua district. The meeting also follows the controversial transfer of 48 officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha—a move that has triggered a fresh political standoff between the Raj Bhavan and the elected government.
The Abdullah-led administration views the LG’s unilateral decision as a direct infringement on its authority, arguing that the transfer and posting of officers outside the All India Services cadre fall exclusively within the domain of the elected government under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act. This latest flashpoint has intensified an already strained relationship between the two power centers, with the Chief Minister reportedly taking up the issue with the Union Home Minister.
Ahead of the meeting, NC MLA from Sonawari, Hilal Akbar Lone, accused the Raj Bhavan of “undermining” the authority of the democratically elected government. He stated that the legislators would deliberate on the necessary steps to prevent such occurrences in the future.
In response to LG’s move, Abdullah has written to Sinha, urging him to reconsider the decision, emphasizing that such transfers should not be carried out without consultation with the elected government. He argued that these actions not only disrupt governance but also diminish the credibility of the government among the people. Reports suggest that the Chief Minister has also instructed Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to halt the implementation of the transfer orders until further review. Abdullah has made it clear that no future postings or transfers of non-All India Services officers should take place without his explicit approval.
The Congress party, an ally in the ruling coalition, has also condemned the LG’s decision, questioning the timing of the transfers. Senior Congress leader and national general secretary Gulam Ahmed Mir criticized Sinha for acting before obtaining approval of the business rules, asserting that such unilateral decisions could erode public confidence in the administration. Mir called for greater patience and restraint from the LG’s office, suggesting that such governance disputes could hinder the stability and efficiency of the administration.
The political standoff over bureaucratic appointments comes at a critical time, with Amit Shah’s impending visit expected to focus on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Home Minister is set to chair high-level meetings in both Jammu and Srinagar, assessing the law-and-order situation following recent terror incidents. With tensions between the elected government and the Raj Bhavan escalating, the political atmosphere in the Union Territory remains highly charged, and the outcome of the discussions at the legislative party meeting could shape the next phase of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
