Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Srinagar Lok Sabha member Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has announced that he will resign from Parliament and the primary membership of the National Conference (NC) on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
Ruhullah, who has been increasingly critical of the NC leadership over its approach towards Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, said his decision was driven by what he described as widening ideological differences with the party.
Confirming his decision to NDTV, Ruhullah said he would formally submit his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah on November 3.
“I will formally send my resignation letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of my father, who was killed by militants in an IED blast,” Ruhullah said.
The MP has accused the NC leadership of reneging on its electoral commitment to fight for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Articles 370 and 35A.
Ruhullah said he did not want to remain associated with what he termed “lies and betrayal”.
“During elections, they (NC) promised to fight for restoration of Article 370. They put it in their manifesto. But soon after winning elections, they reneged on their commitment,” he said.
He argued that the party could not cite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s opposition to restoration of Article 370 as a justification for abandoning its electoral promise.
“Wasn’t BJP there when they made such a commitment in the election manifesto? It was the same BJP when they went to people with the commitment promising that they will fight for restoration of special status,” Ruhullah said.
“It’s clear that they lied to people during elections and I will not be party to this lie and betrayal. My commitments do not change according to situations. I will follow my conviction and principles,” he added.
Ruhullah is expected to hold a major public rally in his political stronghold of Budgam on his father’s death anniversary, where he plans to make his resignation public and explain the reasons behind his decision.
He said that before formally stepping down, he intended to fulfil certain commitments, including disbursing funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and hosting a conference of MPs in Srinagar as part of his efforts to seek restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.
“Yes, I am resigning from the party and as Srinagar MP. I have a few commitments before I formally submit my resignation,” he said.
Ruhullah also indicated that he could return to the electoral fray after his resignation. He said that, if a by-election is announced for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, he would consult the people before deciding whether to contest as an independent candidate.
“Once by-elections are announced, I will consult people and I may contest the by-election as an independent candidate,” he said.
Ruhullah’s relations with the National Conference have remained strained for some time, with the MP repeatedly criticising Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over what he describes as a departure from the party’s traditional political position on Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
The differences came into sharper focus after the NC suffered defeat in the Budgam Assembly by-election last year. The seat had been vacated by Omar Abdullah after he won from two constituencies in the 2024 Assembly elections.
Ruhullah had declined to campaign for the NC candidate and openly criticised the party leadership during the election campaign. Following the defeat, Omar Abdullah accused him of committing “political suicide”.
The latest confrontation follows remarks by NC president Farooq Abdullah, who recently challenged Ruhullah to resign as Srinagar MP and seek a fresh mandate from voters.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Tuesday, Farooq Abdullah responded to Ruhullah’s claim that his 2024 Lok Sabha victory was primarily the result of his personal credibility rather than the NC’s organisational support.
“If you think people voted for you, resign and go back to them. We will see how many votes you get,” Farooq Abdullah said.
Ruhullah responded the following day, saying, “It is not possible that Dr Sahib asks me for something and I send him back empty-handed.”
The dispute between Ruhullah and the NC leadership has increasingly centred on the party’s position on the abrogation of Article 370 and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s erstwhile constitutional guarantees.
Ruhullah has maintained that the NC sought votes in the 2024 elections on the promise of pursuing the restoration of special status but subsequently softened its position after forming the government.
His proposed resignation could therefore mark a significant political development in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly if he decides to contest the ensuing by-election as an independent candidate.
The move is also likely to test the extent of Ruhullah’s independent political support in Srinagar and the broader Kashmir region, while presenting a fresh challenge to the National Conference leadership.
