SRINAGAR: Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his decision to leave the National Conference (NC) and resign from the Lok Sabha, ending his nearly 24-year association with the party over differences with its leadership on Jammu and Kashmir’s political and constitutional issues.
He made the announcement while addressing a gathering at Behishti Zehra Park in Budgam, organised to mark the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
Ruhullah accused the NC leadership of failing to fulfil its commitments made during the 2024 Assembly elections, particularly those concerning the restoration of Article 370, protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights, reservation-related issues and the release of political prisoners.
He alleged that the party had failed to pursue the mandate given by voters after assuming power, accusing its leadership of abandoning key electoral promises.
Announcing his departure, Ruhullah said: “I represent the legacy of a martyr and a halal bloodline. I am signing the document of my freedom. From 2:40 pm today, I am no longer part of the NC.”
He said he had asked Muhammad Ashraf Mattoo, father of Tufail Mattoo, who was killed in alleged police firing in 2010 during Omar Abdullah’s tenure as Chief Minister, to submit his resignation to NC president Farooq Abdullah.
Taking aim at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Ruhullah recalled that he had previously received messages from him thanking him for restoring the party’s dignity.
“You once flooded me with messages thanking me for restoring NC’s dignity,” he said.
Ruhullah also accused the party of trading people’s dignity and indicated that he would disclose further details about its conduct during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Clarifying the reasons for his departure, he maintained that his decision was driven by ideological differences and had nothing to do with the recent Cabinet reshuffle or the allocation of ministerial positions.
He also said he did not want to destabilise the elected government or encourage horse-trading, and called for the Omar Abdullah-led administration to be allowed to complete its five-year term.
Ruhullah’s departure ends a political association with the NC spanning nearly 24 years. He represented Budgam in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on three occasions before winning the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in the 2024 general elections by a margin of approximately 1.88 lakh votes.
His announced resignation from the Lok Sabha will require formal submission and acceptance by the Speaker before the Srinagar parliamentary seat is officially declared vacant. A by-election would subsequently be required to fill the vacancy.
The announcement comes amid reported differences within the ruling NC following its recent Cabinet reshuffle, with sections of party legislators expressing discontent over the leadership’s functioning.
The Budgam district administration had permitted the commemorative gathering at Behishti Zehra Park between 10 am and 1 pm, restricting the programme to the designated premises and prohibiting rallies and processions outside the venue
