NC faces internal dissent as MLAs question Omar Abdullah's leadership

National Conference is facing growing internal dissent, with some MLAs questioning chief minister Omar Abdullah's leadership following the resignation of Aga Ruhullah as Srinagar MP on Friday.

The developments have forced party president Farooq Abdullah to intervene, calming the dissident legislators' tempers and assuring action on their demands at a meeting on Saturday.

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The party leadership has sought to portray Ruhullah's resignation as a success of BJP's alleged "Operation Lotus" in Kashmir even as the discontent appears to go beyond the MP's departure, with legislators raising concerns about the CM's style of functioning and the influence of his close aides.

"There is a crisis of trust," a disgruntled MLA said, alleging that Abdullah listens only "to his friends and those who speak English and drink coffee."

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The appointment of Nasir Aslam Wani as an advisor to the CM has emerged as a source of resentment.

Another NC legislator said Farooq Abdullah may have groomed his son as his successor, but Omar is yet to get a grip on how to "talk to a colleague" or handle a "political crisis."