National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday dismissed reports of a possible split in the party as baseless, saying the concerns raised by around 16 legislators were genuine and would be addressed by the leadership.Speaking to reporters, after meeting the legislators, Dr Abdullah said the party leadership had listened to their grievances and would take steps to resolve them.
"We have spoken to them. Their problems were genuine and they were heard properly. We will take some steps quickly and some steps slowly," he said.
He said the party would work towards strengthening both the organisation and the government to ensure that people's problems were addressed.
Dismissing speculation about a possible rebellion within the ruling party, Abdullah said the National Conference remained united and could not be divided.
"The news that a split is taking place in the National Conference is completely baseless. This community is organised, and those who think they can break it should remember that it has never been broken and never will be," he said. The meeting comes amid reports of discontent among a section of NC legislators over the functioning of the party and the government. Around 16 MLAs had sought an interaction with the party leadership, triggering speculation about internal differences within the ruling party.
Dr Farooq Abdullah also reiterated the party's commitment to seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood and Article 370. Our fight for the restoration of statehood will continue. Our fight for Article 370 and Article 35A will also continue, and, God willing, we will take the matter to the Supreme Court," he said.
The National Conference had made restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and statehood key promises in its 2024 Assembly election manifesto.
The Supreme Court had upheld the Centre's August 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 in December 2023, while directing that Assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir and statehood be restored at the earliest.
The NC-led government, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, assumed office in October 2024 after the party emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections.