After stating he want to burst, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah convenes crucial legislative party meeting

SRINAGAR: With Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah convening a meeting of National Conference (NC) legislators on June 3, it has led to political speculation in J&K, particularly after his statement last month that he wanted to "burst" after the Eid.

However, the chief minister leaving everyone guessing. "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 & those who speak sit in the opposition," the chief minister said.

On May 6, Omar hinted at a strong political move saying, "trust me, I want to burst like a cloudburst." He said he would talk openly on the issues after Eid.



A NC legislator confirmed receiving an invitation for the June 3 meeting and described it as significant, saying party lawmakers would hold detailed discussions on governance challenges arising from Jammu and Kashmir's Union Territory status.

"The MLAs have serious concerns. Many developmental and administrative works are stuck as the bureaucracy remains largely beyond the control of the elected government," the legislator said. "These issues will be discussed in detail and there will be consensus and the government will be asked to pursue the restoration of statehood more forcefully with the Centre."

The party sources said the meeting is also expected to discuss the long-pending appointment of the advocate general of J&K and the contentious reservation policy. The post of advocate general has remained vacant since chief minister Omar Abdullah took oath in October 2024. The then AG D.C. Raina had submitted his resignation after the elected government assumed office. Raina was appointed advocate general by J&K’s first Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu on Nov 1, 2019. Though Omar wanted him to continue, differences emerged with the LG administration over the issue. As a result, the key legal office is run by an additional advocate general.

Reservation policy is also expected to figure prominently in the meeting. The issue has become politically sensitive after the Centre's decision over the past five years to expand reservations and include additional communities in reserved categories. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules, originally framed in 2004, were amended by the central government in 2024 to grant the Pahari-speaking population a 10 percent quota under the Scheduled Tribe category. The LG administration implemented the changes the same year. The administration also added more than 15 new castes to the reservation list leading to reservation up to 70 percent. The Jammu and Kashmir government following protests by general category students and candidates formed a cabinet sub-committee to examine reservation policy. The report has been forwarded to the LG but there has been no response to it.

The meeting will discuss a possible expansion of the council of ministers. The Omar Abdullah-led government currently has six ministers including the chief minister. The chief minister can add three more ministers in the cabinet but he has not done it so far fearing internal opposition. The meeting also assumes significance as Congress party at J&K level is also threatening to withdraw support to the Omar led government.

In the 90-member J&K Assembly, the NC has 42 seats, BJP has 30, the Congress has six seats, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) four, independents seven, the CPI(M) one, Peoples Conference (JKPC) one, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) one. The NC and Congress contested the 2024 Assembly elections as part of a pre-poll alliance. With the support of five independents, the NC-led alliance has a strength of 53 members in the House.

A NC legislator dismissed rumours about Omar’s possible resignation, saying there was "no question" of such a move. He said that the speculation was being spread by the BJP to discredit the elected government. While the BJP legislator and the leader of the opposition in J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma said the chief minister will not resign over the issue of statehood. “The NC is about to implode and it is possible June 3 will be their last meeting,” Sharma told reporters in Srinagar.