NEW DELHI: The Congress in Jammu and Kashmir is facing a revolt, with a large number of MLAs threatening to quit the Assembly rather than opting for status quo in the coalition arrangement.

Although the party officially denied that the MLAs had put in their papers, sources associated with the legislators insisted that there was no going back on their demand that the party take its turn to head the Government in keeping with the agreement reached in 2002.

Under the accord, the People's Democratic Party would head the coalition under Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for the first three years and relinquish office on November 2, 2005.

For the past four days the Congress central leadership has been holding discussions on whether or not the party should take its turn in leading the coalition.

`Don't forgo claim'

Congress MLAs camping in the capital have been demanding that the party should not forgo its rightful claim.

Following this, the leadership indicated that a large majority of its MLAs were not willing to settle for anything else.

However, general secretary Ambika Soni, who is in charge of party affairs in the State, said such reports were baseless.

The decision of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to meet Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ms. Soni on Wednesday evening fuelled speculation that all was not well within the legislature party.

Ms. Soni asserted that the meeting was meant to review quake relief work undertaken by the party in the State.

Meanwhile, the rescheduling of Ms. Gandhi's visit to the affected regions on `security considerations' has led to speculation that it is linked to the political developments.

Party confident

Party sources attributed the sudden upsurge of "sentiments" to strong regional aspirations and were confident that the issue would be resolved amicably.

The high command has directed the MLAs to return to the State.

The party maintained that only Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, State Congress chief Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed and Speaker Tara Chand were called for consultations.

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