The ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir will hold a crucial two-day meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC) in Srinagar starting Thursday (November 27). This meeting has been called amidst rising communal tension over admissions to Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College and student unrest regarding the reservation issue.
Jammu & Kashmir Politics: The ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir will hold a crucial two-day meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC) in Srinagar starting Thursday, November 27. Party President Farooq Abdullah will chair this meeting, where several important issues related to the stability of the government and the party will be discussed. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will also attend this meeting.
The meeting has been convened amidst escalating communal tension and the reservation dispute surrounding admissions to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College. The focus of this meeting will be on the party's strategy, its performance in by-elections, and the government's next steps.
Key Issues in the Meeting
According to sources, the CWC meeting is likely to hold special discussions on the following issues:
- Stability of the government and the party: Farooq Abdullah will chair the meeting, which will deliberate on the functioning of the government and the administrative stability led by the NC.
- Assessment of Omar Abdullah government's performance: The meeting will also discuss the fulfillment of public amenities and electoral promises made by the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, such as 200 units of free electricity and 12 free gas cylinders.
- New Reservation Policy and student unrest: Allegations raised by BJP and other groups regarding the issue of 42 Muslim students admitted to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College will be discussed. According to party sources, the BJP has attempted to communalize this issue to gain political advantage.
- Analysis of by-election defeat: In the Budgam assembly constituency, PDP's Aga Muntazir Mehdi defeated NC's Aga Syed Mahmood by a margin of 4,478 votes. The reasons for this defeat and strategic errors will be analyzed in the meeting.
- Participation of rebel MP Aga Ruhullah: All eyes in the meeting will be on whether the party's ‘rebel’ MP, Aga Ruhullah, will attend. Ruhullah had recently deviated from the party line and did not campaign for the NC in Budgam.
- Discussion on cabinet expansion: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier indicated that a cabinet expansion would take place after the by-elections. Currently, the J&K cabinet is approved for up to 9 members, and the meeting may also decide on appointing three more ministers.
The importance of the CWC meeting is further heightened because the party's recent defeat in the by-elections has raised some questions within the NC. According to party sources, there will be in-depth discussions on the ruling government's decisions, electoral strategy, and local disputes. Particularly, the issue of student admissions at Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College and the BJP's attempt to communalize it poses a sensitive political challenge for the NC. The party aims to prevent it from turning into a communal dispute and to maintain peace in the region.
