Mubarak Gul’s Exclusion |
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent cabinet expansion, with the induction of four new ministers, has triggered resentment within the National Conference (NC). After nearly two years of waiting, the long-awaited cabinet expansion has left many senior party leaders disappointed, raising questions about the leadership’s approach towards recognising its senior leaders and understanding regional aspirations.
When Omar Abdullah selected his cabinet in 2024, he inducted only two Ministers from Kashmir Sakina Yatoo and Javed Ahmad Dar and gave more representation to Jammu by getting three MLAs appointed as Cabinet Ministers (Surinder Chowdhary, Satish Sharma and Javed Rana).
By appointing a Hindu from Jammu as Deputy CM & an independent MLA from Jammu as cabinet Minister Omar Abdullah had taken great decision then. I wish he had appointed few more Ministers then only and closed this chapter. The fresh cabinet expansion was expected to address political aspirations across Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, it has exposed the discontent within the ruling party and different regions.
Senior NC leader and seven-time MLA Mubarak Gul has expressed disappointment over his exclusion from the Council of Ministers. Another senior leader, Abdul Majid Larmi, a three-time MLA, was visibly emotional while speaking to the media. MLA from Gurez and former Deputy Speaker Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi reportedly stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony in protest against his exclusion.
The resentment was not confined to individual leaders as many MLAs from the Pir Panjal region of Rajouri and Poonch reportedly met following the cabinet expansion, expressing concern over what they perceived as inadequate representation for their region and the Pahari community. Thanamandi MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan openly voiced these concerns.
These developments suggest that the cabinet expansion, rather than consolidating the party, has created new political challenges for the National Conference leadership.
A veteran leader denied his due?
As per my personal assessment, Mubarak Gul’s exclusion from the Council of Ministers is particularly difficult to justify politically. Gul first won the Eidgah Assembly constituency in 1983 and has since built a long political career, winning seven Assembly elections, including the 2024 election. His association with the National Conference goes back to mid 1970s. Before entering electoral politics, he headed the Jammu and Kashmir Youth Federation, which later became part of the Youth National Conference.
Despite his long service to the party and repeated electoral victories, Gul has never been given a cabinet portfolio by his own party. He did serve as Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from 2013 to 2015, an important constitutional position.........