In a significant political development for Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has officially resigned from both the National Conference (NC) and his parliamentary seat. The announcement, which occurred during a large public gathering in Budgam on Tuesday, brings an abrupt end to his 24-year association with the ruling party.
Ruhullah, who had played a central role in campaigning for the National Conference during both the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, has increasingly become a vocal critic of the party's current direction. In his resignation, he leveled severe accusations against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party president Farooq Abdullah, alleging that the leadership has systematically abandoned the electoral mandates they were elected to uphold.
Specifically, Ruhullah highlighted that the party had moved away from its foundational promises concerning the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, the implementation of reservation policies, and the crucial demand for the restoration of Article 370. He characterized the leadership’s recent actions as a betrayal of the aspirations of the people of the region, asserting that the party has failed to advocate for the constitutional rights they previously championed.
The formal resignation from the Lok Sabha was communicated via a letter addressed to Speaker Om Birla. In the document, Ruhullah stated, "In exercise of the right conferred by Article 101(3)(b) of the Constitution of India, and in terms of Rule 240 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, I hereby resign my seat as the Member of Parliament representing the Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency of Jammu and Kashmir in the Eighteenth Lok Sabha, with immediate effect." He emphasized that the decision was voluntary and submitted of his own free will.
Symbolism played a notable role in the announcement of his exit. Ruhullah ensured that a copy of his resignation letter was to be delivered to party president Farooq Abdullah by Mohammad Ashraf Mattoo. The choice of envoy carries heavy political weight, as Mattoo is the father of Tufail Ahmad Mattoo, a 17-year-old who lost his life in a 2010 tear gas shelling incident during Omar Abdullah’s tenure as Chief Minister.
For years, Ruhullah had been viewed as a key figure within the National Conference, often seen as a voice for the region’s youth and a proponent of its constitutional autonomy. His departure follows a period of mounting tension, during which he had publicly questioned the government’s handling of several high-stakes political issues. Despite his active involvement in recent election cycles, his dissatisfaction with the party’s policy trajectory eventually culminated in this final, public split.
As of now, the resignation creates a significant vacancy in the Srinagar constituency, with political analysts observing that the fallout may impact the internal dynamics of the ruling party. The move is widely seen as a protest against the perceived dilution of the National Conference’s ideological stance since coming to power. With his resignation, Ruhullah has effectively distanced himself from the NC’s administrative and legislative platform, leaving the party to face questions about its commitment to its pre-election manifesto and the future of its political strategy in the region.
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