SRINAGAR: Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has decided to resign from Parliament and the primary membership of the National Conference, citing ideological differences with the party leadership, NDTV reported.
Ruhullah said he would formally submit his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker and NC president Farooq Abdullah on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
The MP said he has some commitments to fulfil before submitting his resignation, including disbursing funds under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and organising a conference in Srinagar as part of his efforts for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights.
He is also planning a public rally in Budgam on his father’s death anniversary, where he will formally release his resignation letter and explain the reasons for quitting as MP.
“Yes, I am resigning from the party and as Srinagar MP,” NDTV quoted Ruhullah as saying.
Ruhullah has been critical of the National Conference leadership over what he describes as the party’s failure to honour its electoral commitment to fight for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
He said the party had promised during the elections to fight for restoration of Article 370 but later backed away from the commitment.
“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.
Ruhullah said he did not want to remain part of what he termed “lies and betrayal”, asserting that his political position would not change according to circumstances.
He has also repeatedly criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the issue, accusing the party leadership of abandoning its stated position on restoration of special status.
Ruhullah indicated that he could contest the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election after resigning from the seat.
“Once by-elections are announced, I will consult people and I may contest the by-election as an independent candidate,” he said.
His announcement comes days after Farooq Abdullah challenged him to resign from the Srinagar seat and seek a fresh mandate from voters.
“If you think people voted for you, resign and go back to them. We will see how many votes you get,” Farooq had said while responding to Ruhullah’s assertion that his 2024 Lok Sabha victory was largely due to his personal credibility rather than the party’s mandate.
Ruhullah responded the following day, saying, “It is not possible that Doctor sahib asks me for something and I send him back empty-handed.”
Relations between Ruhullah and the NC leadership have remained strained for some time. The differences became more pronounced after he declined to campaign for the party candidate during the Budgam Assembly by-election last year, which the NC subsequently lost.
Following the defeat, Omar Abdullah had said Ruhullah had committed “political suicide”.
If his resignation is formally submitted and accepted, the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat will fall vacant and a by-election will be held.
