Srinagar Member of Parliament, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, is all set to resign from his Lok Sabha seat and his primary membership of the National Conference (NC) on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Mehdi, who was killed in a terror attack.
“When I announced my decision to resign from the Lok Sabha seat and the party months ago, I am as sure about my resignation as I was when I made the announcement about it,” Ruhullah said, while declining to reveal his future plans.
The estranged leader, who had campaigned rigorously for the party in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, was the first to raise his voice against his own government. Ruhullah even led a protest to the Gupkar residence of J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, a move that turned the top NC leadership against him, as no other party leader had ever dared to protest outside the CM’s house. In response, party leaders challenged the Srinagar MP to resign from his Lok Sabha seat, claiming the seat belonged to the NC. It is not clear whether Ruhullah will form his own political party or join any political party opposed to the NC. However, for the past one year, the young leader has been constantly opposing the policies of the ruling government, even targeting the J&K CM. His father, Aga Mehdi, was a Congress leader. Following Aga Mehdi’s assassination in a terror attack, Farooq Abdullah motivated the young Ruhullah, then a political novice, to join the NC and contest his first election. Former BJP president and senior leader Ravindra Sharma described Ruhullah as politically mature and fast. “I know him, despite our differences with his agenda, but he is fast. “It remains to be seen who joins him. It is true his resignation will be a big headline and create traction on social media. Whether his resignation will have an impact on the NC remains to be seen,” he added.
He blamed it for deviating from the promises made during the polls, especially regarding reservation, Article 370, and statehood. Ruhullah is a three-time legislator from Budgam and a former minister, having won his seat continuously from 2002 to 2014. In 2024, he contested the Lok Sabha polls from the prestigious Srinagar seat and won by a comfortable margin. I also heard he will resign on November 3,” he said.
Maqsood Ahmad, former editor of the current affairs programme at All India Radio, said Ruhullah hasn’t opened up all his cards yet.
