Accuses Omar of betraying people’s mandate
Srinagar, Nov 03: In a major political development, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday announced his resignation from the party and the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, accusing its leadership of betraying the people’s mandate by abandoning its commitment to the restoration of Article 370 and other constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ruhullah made the announcement while addressing a gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam on the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi.
He also indicated plans to launch a political movement involving people committed to restoring the rights, dignity and identity of Jammu and Kashmir, making it clear that he was not simply looking to join another political party.
In a resignation letter dated November 3, addressed to NC president Farooq Abdullah, Ruhullah alleged that the party had taken an “about-turn” after securing a massive mandate in the 2024 Assembly elections, abandoning the political struggle it had promised to lead following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019.
He also submitted his resignation from the Lok Sabha to Speaker Om Birla under Article 101(3)(b) of the Constitution and Rule 240 of the Lok Sabha Rules of Procedure, seeking to relinquish his membership of the 18th Lok Sabha with immediate effect. Formal acceptance of his parliamentary resignation was not confirmed.
Directly targeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and NC president Farooq Abdullah, Ruhullah said the party had failed to honour the expectations of people who voted for it in large numbers, arguing that restoration of statehood could not substitute the demand for restoration of constitutional guarantees.
“The people poured their anger and expectations on NC with a massive mandate. But the electoral arena had not yet cooled down, the NC did an about-turn,” he wrote in his letter.
He said he had joined the National Conference believing it would provide a political platform for a sustained struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional rights. However, he alleged that the party had subsequently abandoned that responsibility in favour of governance and what he described as a vague promise of statehood.
“But the NC abdicated this space for mere governmentality and for a vain and vague promise of so-called restoration of statehood,” he wrote.
During his address, Ruhullah accused Omar Abdullah of shifting his position on Article 370 after becoming Chief Minister. He said the restoration of the constitutional provision had featured prominently in the party’s election campaign but was subsequently presented by the Chief Minister as something that was not his fight.
He also questioned the government’s handling of the reservation issue and the party’s failure to deliver on other electoral commitments, including 200 units of free electricity, 12 free LPG cylinders annually and one lakh jobs.
Ruhullah further accused the NC leadership of abandoning the demand for the release of political prisoners and failing to adequately defend Jammu and Kashmir’s political autonomy, identity, religious and cultural character and demographic interests.
He said his differences with the party leadership had widened despite his attempts to challenge its political direction from within. Referring to Farooq Abdullah’s remarks asking him to restore Article 370 if he believed it was possible, Ruhullah said the response had reinforced his belief that the party was no longer committed to the struggle it had promised to pursue.
In his letter, he described the erosion of political rights as a threat to the very existence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, warning that the withdrawal from political struggle would further weaken their position.
“Rights, to make a philosophical point, make a people. Without these, there is just erasure of a people,” he wrote.
Ruhullah said his decision was driven by political principles and conscience rather than personal differences or disappointment over not being given a position. He described his resignation as a decision to free himself from an organisation whose political course he believed contradicted its electoral commitments.
At the gathering, he said he wanted to build a movement for the restoration of dignity and respect for the people rather than merely shift from one party to another. He said he would bring together honest and compassionate young people and seek individuals whose commitment and credibility could be trusted before deciding the shape of any future political platform.
He also indicated that he could contest a parliamentary by-election as an Independent if circumstances required.
Ruhullah’s resignation marks a major setback for the National Conference, which had relied on his campaign efforts during the 2024 Assembly elections. His departure also comes amid reports of discontent within sections of the party following the recent Cabinet expansion.
Ruhullah was elected to the Srinagar parliamentary constituency on a National Conference ticket in 2024. His decision to quit both the party and Parliament marks a decisive break with the organisation’s leadership and opens the way for a new political initiative outside the NC.
