Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi Resigns From National Conference

Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi resigned from the National Conference and his parliamentary seat on Tuesday, citing a betrayal of public trust by the party’s top leadership.

The 48-year-old Shia cleric announced his departure on the 26th anniversary of his father’s death, formally submitting his resignation to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha with immediate effect.

The resignation intensifies an internal power struggle within the ruling party, where roughly 25 legislators have demanded a comprehensive cabinet overhaul and the removal of key political advisers to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

“It’s 2:40 p.m. The very hour my father was martyred 26 years ago in an IED blast,” said Mr. Ruhullah during a gathering of supporters in Budgam.

“This is the time I set myself free from NC. This is my azaadi. There are people who cry for the seat of power, but I feel at peace shunning the chair I am holding,” he said.

Mr. Ruhullah accused party leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of misusing his position for electoral gains while failing to uphold promises made regarding the restoration of rights after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.

The exit prompted a sharp response from the National Conference, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating the resignation to destabilize the coalition government.

“The BJP carries lollipops; today they gave one to Aga also,” said Mr. Choudhary, alleging that the opposition party had misled the former member of parliament.

The accusation followed comments by BJP National Vice President Ram Madhav, who suggested that the large crowd at Mr. Ruhullah’s recent rally in Budgam attended with the blessing of his party.

Mr. Ruhullah indicated plans to form a new political organization, describing his decision as a necessary step to maintain his ethics and conscience in a time of political transition.

It remains unclear how the National Conference will address the demands for a cabinet reshuffle or whether the departure of Mr. Ruhullah will trigger further resignations among the party's legislative ranks.