The administration of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is grappling with a widening internal rift within the National Conference (NC). Following a recent cabinet expansion, several party legislators have expressed dissatisfaction, with some demanding the resignation of the current council of ministers and the appointment of a new cabinet based on consensus and merit.
Amidst this atmosphere of discontent, Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced his decision to resign from the National Conference and vacate his Lok Sabha seat on November 3, 2026. In a statement posted on social media, Mehdi accused the party leadership of treating Jammu and Kashmir as a family estate, arguing that the party had failed to honor its manifesto commitments, specifically regarding the restoration of Article 370 and the protection of rights for the region's residents.
Mehdi, a three-time former MLA from Budgam, stated that he would not remain an accomplice to what he described as a betrayal of the promises made to the electorate. He plans to address the public on the death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam. Mehdi’s political history includes serving as a cabinet minister in 2009 and acting as the party’s chief spokesperson. However, his relationship with the party leadership has been strained since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, as he has frequently urged the party to adopt a stronger stance on the issue.
The internal strain reached a critical point when, according to reports, more than a dozen NC legislators held a meeting at the residence of Lolab MLA Qaiser Jamshaid Lone on Friday evening, with others participating via virtual links. These legislators reportedly called for the resignation of the entire council of ministers and the advisor to the Chief Minister, Nasir Ahmad Wani. In a concurrent development, NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah removed Mubarak Gul from his post as the party’s general secretary following his reported participation in the meeting.
The party leadership has sought to downplay the severity of the situation. NC spokesperson Ifra Jan questioned the authenticity of reports suggesting that 20 legislators were involved in the dissent. Jan characterized the current unrest as routine political friction common to parties across the country. She emphasized that while one or two MLAs had openly displayed displeasure following the cabinet expansion, the narrative of a widespread rebellion lacked evidentiary support and was being fueled by speculation.
As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Dr. Farooq Abdullah attend to matters in New Delhi, the party remains under pressure to address the demands of its disgruntled members. Dr. Abdullah had previously suggested that if Mehdi felt strongly about the restoration of Article 370, he was free to pursue that cause independently, a challenge to which Mehdi responded by asserting his intent to fulfill his own political convictions.
The situation highlights a deepening divide within the National Conference, centering on ideological differences regarding the region's special status and internal party governance. While the leadership maintains that the administration remains stable, the upcoming resignation of a high-profile MP and the vocal demands from within the legislative ranks suggest that the party faces a significant challenge in maintaining unity in the wake of the recent government reorganization.
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