In a major setback for Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling National Conference (NC), Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi announced his resignation on Tuesday from both his Lok Sabha seat and the primary membership of the party.
The dramatic announcement took place at Behesht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam during a public gathering held on the 26th anniversary of his father’s death.
Ruhullah, a three-time MLA and former minister, stated that he took the step because the party leadership failed to act upon core election commitments regarding reservations, Article 370, and the restoration of statehood.
The decision follows a long-brewing rift with the NC’s top brass. Ruhullah had publicly challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s administration and led protests outside his residence. The conflict deepened after NC president Farooq Abdullah challenged Ruhullah to step down and contest independently if he opposed the party line.
Tensions mounted further when Ruhullah declined to campaign for the NC candidate in the Budgam Assembly seat, which the party eventually lost to the PDP.
Despite assertions from Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmed Rana that the NC government under Omar Abdullah remains solid and unaffected by the departure, Ruhullah’s exit marks an ideological fracture in the region’s political landscape.
