SRINAGAR — A major political crisis has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after parliamentarian Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi resigned from the National Conference (NC), prompting the ruling party to accuse the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating internal dissent and fracturing the governing coalition.
Ruhullah, who represents the Srinagar constituency, tendered his resignation on Monday to coincide with his father’s death anniversary. In his resignation address, he accused the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government of abdicating its political commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status and abandoning the core mandate of the 2024 assembly elections.
Ruling Coalition Points Finger at Opposition
The resignation led to a sharp verbal exchange between the National Conference and opposition leaders over external political influences:
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Allegations of Political Enticement: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary mounted a sharp counter-attack, characterizing Ruhullah as a “noble man” who had been misled by opposition promises. He asserted that the BJP was actively attempting to destabilize the ruling coalition.
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Controversy Over Opposing Statements: The National Conference seized upon public remarks by BJP National Vice President Ram Madhav, who noted that the ruling party was visibly breaking apart and claimed that attendees at Ruhullah’s Budgam rally included BJP supporters.
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Demand for Clarification: Ruling party spokespersons maintained that Madhav’s public statements served as direct evidence of opposition involvement in encouraging factional splits within the regional government.
Ideological Fallout and Legislative Impact
Ruhullah’s high-profile exit highlights a growing ideological rift within Valley politics regarding governance priorities versus constitutional advocacy:
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Critique of Regional Policy: Ruhullah argued that the current regional administration has shifted focus away from defending political rights and contesting the 2019 administrative reorganization, choosing instead to compromise on key constitutional principles.
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Heightened Pressure on Administration: The departure leaves the National Conference navigating significant internal strain and heightened opposition criticism early in its legislative term.
