J&K MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi to Resign From National Conference Over Ideology
Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi plans to step down from the National Conference, accusing leadership of abandoning core principles regarding Article 370 and regional autonomy.
At a glance
- Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced plans to resign from the National Conference on November 3.
- Mehdi criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and party leadership for diluting their stance on Article 370.
- He intends to build a new political alternative with people who have strong convictions and no political baggage.
Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi is set to resign from the National Conference, citing a deep ideological rift with party leadership over the handling of Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy. Mehdi stated he would formally step down during a rally in Budgam on November 3, coinciding with the death anniversary of his father.
The departure follows escalating tensions between Mehdi and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah regarding the post-abrogation political landscape, the Waqf Amendment Act, and the party's direction.
Why the Srinagar MP is leaving
Mehdi stated that his decision to exit the party after 24 years is final. He accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of failing to challenge the status quo following the abrogation of Article 370. According to Mehdi, the party's leadership has moved closer to the BJP and normalized post-abrogation arrangements rather than fighting for regional rights as promised during the 2024 Assembly elections.
He also pointed to comments from party president Farooq Abdullah, who told an interviewer that Mehdi was free to resign if he believed Article 370 could be restored. Mehdi argued this remark confirmed that the leadership itself no longer believes in the constitutional restoration of Article 370, despite campaigning on the issue.
Building a new alternative
Mehdi's departure signals a potential fracture within the political opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the ongoing struggle over how traditional regional parties should navigate the political reality established after the abrogation of Article 370. By stepping down and attempting to build a grassroots alternative with professionals and civic leaders, Mehdi is testing whether an explicitly uncompromising ideological platform can challenge established regional heavyweights.
What to watch next is whether his planned rally and formation of a new political network attract sufficient legislative and public backing to alter the region's political dynamics.
What to watch: Watch for Mehdi's formal resignation announcement at the Budgam rally on November 3 and any subsequent announcements regarding a new political platform.
Reporting from: Times of India. Spotted an error? Tell us.
- Aga Ruhullah Mehdi
- National Conference
- Omar Abdullah
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Article 370
- India
- Politics