Suhail Khan
Budgam, November 14 : A significant internal rift within the ruling National Conference (NC) has been exposed following the party’s defeat in the Budgam by-election, with senior leader and Srinagar MP Syed Aga Ruhullah publicly attributing the loss to “arrogance.”
In a sharp reaction to the 2025 election results, Ruhullah as per Kashmir Convener took to the social media platform X to post a Quranic verse (Al-Araf: 146), which he interpreted as a critical lesson. “I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right… That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them,” the verse states. Ruhullah concluded his post, “Lesson: Arrogance is a recipe for disaster. Consciousness, humility, and introspection are the way.” he said.
Ruhullah, a former three-time MLA, had previously refused to campaign for the party’s candidate. He cited several grievances, including delays in implementing the Reservation Sub-Committee report, controversies surrounding smart electricity meters, and the party’s perceived softening stance on the restoration of statehood and Article 370.
The internal conflict was further highlighted when Chief Minister and NC Vice President Omar Abdullah directly criticized Ruhullah for his absence from the campaign trail. “Maybe he likes the air of Germany better than the air of Budgam,” Abdullah remarked at a rally. “We like the air of Budgam more. We are among our people, listening to them and fulfilling their demands. People have chosen us for this. Germany has not chosen us to sit there.”
In recent months, Ruhullah has adopted an increasingly independent and critical stance against his own party’s leadership. He has accused the NC of a “moral retreat” and failing to uphold the political dignity of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. He has specifically criticized CM Abdullah for remaining “silent on constitutional matters” and adopting what he describes as a “soft and accommodative posture” toward the central government.
In multiple interviews and social media posts, Ruhullah has insisted that the NC must not compromise on the principles of autonomy and self-respect. “If we don’t speak for our people, what separates us from any other power-hungry outfit?” he argued in a recent televised discussion, rejecting the notion that the government’s developmental narrative is a substitute for political rights.
The criticism follows a major political shift, as the National Conference lost the Budgam seat after holding it for 53 years. The by-poll results, declared today, saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) make a successful entry into the constituency, while the Bharatiya Janata Party retained the Nagrota seat.
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