Srinagar, Jun 2 (KNS): Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma on Tuesday termed the National Conference's June 3 meeting a "floor test", alleging that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was forcing party legislators to repeatedly demonstrate their loyalty due to fears of losing power.

Addressing reporters here, Sharma said the proposed meeting was part of a series of exercises aimed at assessing the support of National Conference MLAs.

"This meeting is nothing more than a floor test. Omar Abdullah has started a weekly ritual of floor tests to check the loyalty of his MLAs. The first was held in the name of the Provincial Working Committee meeting, the second was a dinner hosted by the deputy chief minister, and the third is tomorrow's meeting with MLAs," he said.

The BJP leader alleged that the chief minister's concern over retaining power had reduced governance to "loyalty parades".

Responding to criticism from the National Conference over his recent remarks that Abdullah would not resign even if reduced to the position of Chief Executive Councillor of a Hill Council, Sharma said he stood by his statement.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

"The past conduct of Omar Abdullah shows that he would not resign even from the post of a sarpanch or panch as long as the privileges, security cover and protocol remain intact," Sharma said.

He also referred to Abdullah's statements made between 2020 and 2024 regarding participation in the legislature of the Union Territory.

"Is it not a fact that Omar Abdullah repeatedly said from 2020 to 2024 that he would not enter the legislature of a Union Territory? Is he not the same person who said in 2024 that he would not sit outside the LG's office waiting for files to be signed? What made him change his mind?" Sharma asked.

He alleged that the Abdullah family's primary objective had always been to remain in power.(KNS)