Rift with party leadership reaches breaking point
From spearheading NC’s 2024 campaign to challenging its political direction,
Srinagar MP’s exit exposes growing fault lines within ruling party
Sopore|Nov, 2: In a major political development that could deepen the crisis within the ruling National Conference (NC), Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is set to resign from both the party and the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, marking a dramatic fallout between one of its prominent campaign faces and the party leadership.
Ruhullah is scheduled to announce his decision at an event in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on November 3, coinciding with the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
His proposed resignation brings to an end a prolonged political confrontation with the NC leadership, particularly party president Farooq Abdullah, over what Ruhullah has described as a departure from the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir during the 2024 Assembly elections.
The development assumes significance as Ruhullah was among the party’s most prominent campaigners during the Assembly elections, actively canvassing for NC candidates and placing restoration of Article 370, protection of constitutional rights and release of political prisoners at the centre of his political messaging.
However, the relationship began deteriorating within months of the NC forming the government in October 2024.
One of the first major indications of the widening differences came when Ruhullah led a protest against the reservation policy in Srinagar, drawing participation from leaders of rival political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The protest reportedly caused unease within the NC leadership and marked the beginning of an increasingly public disagreement between the MP and his party.
The differences subsequently widened over the government’s handling of political commitments and the NC leadership’s position on restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status.
A major confrontation reportedly took place during an NC working committee meeting in May 2025, where Ruhullah questioned the leadership over what he viewed as a dilution of the party’s electoral promises.
The dispute eventually turned into an open confrontation with Farooq Abdullah, who challenged Ruhullah to resign from his Lok Sabha seat and contest a fresh election, questioning whether he could win without the party’s support.
Ruhullah responded by questioning the NC’s political direction, arguing that accepting restoration of statehood as the limit of Jammu and Kashmir’s political aspirations would effectively legitimise the constitutional changes introduced in August 2019.
In a strongly worded communication to the party president, he questioned why the NC had promised restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A in its 2024 election manifesto if it was not prepared to pursue those demands after coming to power.
In August this year, Ruhullah had indicated his intention to quit the party, although his final decision was announced through a statement issued by his office on October 30.
The statement said he would resign from both the National Conference and his parliamentary membership on November 3, accusing the party leadership of seeking votes on promises that were subsequently abandoned.
“We demanded the restoration of Article 370, the release of prisoners and the protection of our rights. They sought power on those promises, then treated us as fools for expecting them to deliver,” the statement said.
It further maintained that there was no possibility of correcting the situation from within the party.
Ruhullah’s proposed departure comes at a sensitive time for the National Conference, which is also facing reported discontent within its legislative ranks following the recent Cabinet expansion.
A meeting of several NC legislators was reportedly held in Srinagar after four new ministers were inducted into the Council of Ministers, with concerns being raised over the leadership’s decisions and the allocation of political space within the government.
Ruhullah’s exit could further complicate the party’s efforts to maintain cohesion, particularly as his criticism has centred on issues that formed an important part of the NC’s electoral campaign.
His political standing in Budgam and his influence among sections of the electorate could also make the development significant beyond the immediate question of his parliamentary and party membership.
Political observers believe the episode reflects a broader challenge for the NC leadership: balancing the practical limitations of governing Jammu and Kashmir with the political expectations generated by its election manifesto.
For the party, Ruhullah’s departure would mean losing not merely a parliamentarian but also a prominent campaign voice who had publicly championed its core political demands before the 2024 elections.
The immediate political question now is whether his resignation will remain an individual political departure or trigger further dissent within the ruling party at a time when it is already navigating internal differences and mounting expectations over the delivery of its electoral commitments.
