Srinagar, Oct 28: National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday reiterated that he would resign from both the party and the Lok Sabha on November 3, accusing the party leadership of undermining his political struggle and moving away from its electoral commitments.
Speaking to the national media, MP Ruhullah as per Kashmir Convener said his decision remained unchanged and that he saw no reason to reconsider it.
“As sure as I was when I announced it, and nothing has changed ever since. Things remain the same, so I don’t see any reason for me to change my decision,” he said.
Asked whether he intended to quit both the National Conference and Parliament, the Srinagar MP said, “Both, from the party as well as from the Parliament.”
Explaining his decision, MP Ruhullah said the party’s conduct over the past two years had made it necessary for him to pursue his political struggle with greater clarity.
“The way the party has behaved in the last two years and the way they try to malign my efforts that I did vis-a-vis my political responsibility, the collective agenda that we had,” he said.
He added that he had continued to fight for the principles he believed in and remained committed to the people, but alleged that his own party had cast aspersions on his intentions and political efforts.
MP Ruhullah also accused the party leadership of moving in a direction contrary to the commitments it had made during the elections, saying this was not helping bring clarity to the political struggle he had been pursuing.
MP Aga Syed Ruhullah’s differences with the National Conference leadership have been growing over the party’s approach to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and statehood, as well as its handling of other electoral commitments.
The National Conference had campaigned in the 2024 Assembly elections on a promise to seek the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, which were effectively nullified by the Centre in August 2019. The party has also maintained that the restoration of statehood remains a key priority.
MP Ruhullah has repeatedly questioned the party’s approach, arguing that its position on constitutional rights has fallen short of the expectations raised during the elections. He has also criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over what he sees as a departure from the party’s stated political principles.
The differences became particularly visible in December 2024, when Ruhullah joined students protesting outside Omar Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar over Jammu and Kashmir’s reservation policy.
The protest was organised by students and job aspirants seeking rationalisation of the reservation system, arguing that the share of seats and government jobs available to open-merit candidates had become inadequate.
MP Ruhullah subsequently pressed the elected government to address their concerns, setting deadlines for action and warning that he would join further protests if the issue remained unresolved. His position put him at odds with sections of the party leadership.
The J&K government later constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the reservation policy and proposed changes. The issue remained a source of political contention as the government’s recommendations awaited further action.
How’ver MP Ruhullah’s decision to resign also follows a public challenge from National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who had asked him to quit his Lok Sabha seat and seek a fresh mandate if he believed he no longer agreed with the party.
Ruhullah subsequently announced that he would leave both the party and Parliament on November 3, drawing a line under his prolonged differences with the leadership.
The date also marks the death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, a prominent Shia leader who was killed in a militant attack in 2000.
Ruhullah has said he would go ahead with the resignations on November 3. He has maintained that his priority is to pursue the political issues he has been raising, while his future political course remains to be seen.
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