Days after Budgam bypoll defeat, NC working committee meets in Srinagar

Days after the National Conference (NC) suffered a major setback with its defeat in the Budgam bypoll, the party’s two-day central working committee meeting began in Srinagar on Thursday.

The ruling NC had lost the Budgam Assembly bypoll to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a year after the seat was won by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Following the loss, Omar had announced that a working committee meeting would be convened to examine the reasons behind the defeat.

The meeting commenced at the party headquarters, Nawa-i-Subh, and was presided over by NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah. Vice president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also attended the deliberations. Omar wrote on social media that the discussions had begun and would continue on Friday.

However, the meet saw the notable absence of Srinagar MP and senior NC leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who in recent months has emerged as one of the party’s most outspoken critics. He had also stayed away from campaigning in the Budgam bypoll, which the National Conference eventually lost.

Speaking to reporters in central Kashmir, Ruhullah said he was unaware of the meeting and had not been invited. “I am not aware which meeting is going on. If a central working committee meeting is going on, of which I am a permanent member, this is the first time since 2002 that I am not invited,” he said.

Senior NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani also confirmed that Ruhullah wasn’t invited for the Srinagar meeting.

NC sources told The Tribune that the meeting will review key political developments and ongoing issues. A senior party leader said the working committee will also assess the performance of the government and identify areas needing improvement.

After the Budgam bypoll outcome, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that changes—either within the government or the party organisation—would be made if necessary.

When asked about the meeting, NC MLA and chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said details would be shared after its conclusion.

The NC government has completed over one year in office. The opposition has been criticising it for allegedly failing to fulfil the promises made before the elections. The NC, however, maintains that the dual Union Territory structure has created major administrative challenges and made governance more complex.