Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi to resign from National Conference
Mehdi accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of diluting his position on Article 370 and moving closer to the BJP.
Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has announced his intention to formally resign from the National Conference (NC). According to a report by The Times of India, Mehdi made the announcement at a rally in Budgam on November 3, which was also the death anniversary of his father.
Mehdi, who has been with the NC for 24 years, stated that his decision is final. He accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of diluting his electoral position on issues including Article 370, the Waqf Amendment Act, Muslim issues, and reservations.
The MP alleged that the Chief Minister has moved closer to the BJP to the point of submission and has normalised the post-abrogation arrangement through constitutional institutions. Mehdi said the party began using the language the BJP wanted people to speak after the abrogation of Article 370.
Mehdi also noted that NC president Farooq Abdullah told him he was free to resign if he believed Article 370 could be restored. The MP claimed Abdullah suggested he had become an irritant for questioning the party's position.
Regarding his 2024 Lok Sabha victory, Mehdi said he received nearly 3.80 lakh votes, noting that the bulk of support came from South Kashmir areas not associated with the NC. He said he is now reaching out to professionals to build a credible political alternative.
The MP stated he is not bargaining for anything in return for his resignation and may contest future by-elections from Srinagar as an independent candidate.