Srinagar, Oct 28: Leader of Opposition and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sunil Sharma on Wednesday predicted a split in the National Conference (NC) and the eventual collapse of the Omar Abdullah-led government, claiming that the ruling party’s internal differences had begun surfacing following the recent expansion of the Council of Ministers.
Sharma who left for New Delhi for consultations with Central leadership alleged that the induction of four National Conference legislators into the Council of Ministers had exposed simmering discontent within the party, particularly among leaders who were left out of the ministerial team despite being considered contenders for cabinet positions.
Speaking to reporters, the Leader of Opposition said the developments following Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony had reinforced his assessment that the National Conference was facing internal divisions that could deepen in the coming days.
“I have already said there are cracks within the National Conference. Those cracks are now becoming visible. We are waiting to see when they widen further,” Sharma said.
He claimed that a section of the ruling party was dissatisfied with the manner in which the organisation was being run, alleging that concerns over dynastic politics and the concentration of power within one family had contributed to the growing unease.
“There is a dissatisfied group which has been repeatedly saying that family rule and dynastic politics will not work. After yesterday’s oath ceremony, that dissatisfaction has started coming out through statements and protests from different places,” he said.
Sharma asserted that the discontent was no longer confined to private discussions within the party and had begun manifesting itself through public expressions of dissatisfaction following the cabinet expansion.
Predicting further political turbulence, he maintained that the National Conference could face a formal split and that the government led by Omar Abdullah would eventually lose its stability.
“The party is divided. Just wait and watch. The party will split and the government will also fall. I have said this before, and things are moving in that direction,” the BJP leader claimed.
Responding to questions about reports and allegations that the BJP had approached National Conference legislators in the aftermath of the cabinet expansion, Sharma rejected the suggestion and said his party had no reason to intervene in the ruling party’s internal differences.
He maintained that the National Conference should resolve its organisational and political issues on its own rather than attributing them to the BJP.
“Why would the BJP approach them? I have already said that the BJP is not going to form a government. Why should we interfere in their internal fight? Let them deal with it themselves,” he said.
When reporters asked him directly whether he had personally approached any National Conference legislator, Sharma questioned whether there was any evidence to support the allegation.
Asked about allegations of lobbying and competition within the National Conference over ministerial berths, Sharma said he was not in a position to comment on the party’s internal decision-making process.
“I am not an expert on the National Conference. I have not done a PhD on the party to know everything happening inside it,” he remarked.
Sharma on Wednesday late afternoon left for New Delhi to meet the BJP leadership, where he will discuss the present political scenario of J&K.
