All eyes in Kashmir are on Budgam today. Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, once one of the National Conference's star campaigners, is set to formally quit both the party and his Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday, November 3, at a public gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park. He picked the date with care: it is the death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi. The move caps a long and very public falling-out with the NC leadership over its promise to restore Article 370.
Who Is Aga Ruhullah Mehdi?
Ruhullah is a three-time former MLA from Budgam and one of the best-known political faces in central Kashmir. He won the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat in 2024 on an NC ticket by a big margin, polling 3,56,866 votes against PDP's Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, who got 1,68,450. That was a winning margin of 1,88,416 votes. He was also a leading voice in the NC's campaign for the 2024 Assembly polls, which the party won.
Why He Is Quitting
Ruhullah has said his decision is about ideology, not a lost post. His main charge is that the NC has walked away from the promises it made to voters, especially the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, the release of prisoners and the protection of people's rights.
"November 3rd marks the death anniversary of my late father, and on that very day, the resignation that was previously announced will be carried out," he said while confirming the date on October 31. He added, "My struggle is based on principles," and stressed that he had not been denied any position and had no personal grievance.
In a sharply worded statement, his office said the party had "sought power on those promises, then treated us as fools," and added, "There is no fixing this rot from within." He has also accused the leadership of treating Jammu and Kashmir like a family estate.
The Statehood vs Article 370 Debate
At the heart of the dispute is a question of political direction. In a letter to party president Farooq Abdullah, Ruhullah argued that the NC's shift from demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A to focusing on statehood was "diametrically opposed" to its 2024 mandate. In his view, settling for statehood would amount to accepting the constitutional changes of August 2019.
How the Rift Grew
The split did not happen overnight. Around two months after the NC formed the government, Ruhullah led a protest in Srinagar against the reservation policy, which PDP leaders also joined, much to the NC leadership's discomfort. In May 2025, he reportedly told a party working committee meeting that leaders had abandoned manifesto promises. Earlier this year, Farooq Abdullah publicly challenged him to resign and face a fresh election. In August, Ruhullah signalled that he would leave, and on October 30 his office announced the November 3 date.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Leader | Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Srinagar MP |
| Quitting | National Conference and Lok Sabha seat |
| Date and venue | November 3, 2026, Behisht-e-Zehra Park, Budgam |
| Main reason | NC not acting on Article 370, prisoner release, rights promises |
| 2024 Lok Sabha votes | 3,56,866 (margin of 1,88,416 over PDP) |
| Previous role | Three-time MLA from Budgam |
| Next step for seat | Bypoll if the Speaker accepts the resignation |
NC's Response and the Wider Unrest
The NC has played down the exit. Minister Javed Rana said Ruhullah's departure would not affect the party and that if he leaves, "he leaves by himself." He said the NC remains united under Farooq Abdullah and that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's government is strong.
Still, the timing is awkward for the party. Omar Abdullah recently expanded his Cabinet, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha swearing in Mir Saifullah, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Shameema Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani as ministers. Days later, more than a dozen NC legislators met in Srinagar, and some reportedly voiced unhappiness with the leadership's choices. NC Kashmir provincial president Showkat Ahmad Mir said the matter was being exaggerated.
Ruhullah himself has said he does not support any horse-trading and wants the elected government to complete its five-year term.
What It Means for Jammu and Kashmir
For voters in Srinagar, the immediate result is that their MP will step away from Parliament. Once the Lok Sabha Speaker accepts the resignation, the seat falls vacant and a bypoll has to be held within the legal timeframe. There is speculation that Ruhullah could contest again as an Independent, which would set up a direct test of strength with the NC in its stronghold.
The bigger impact is on the Article 370 debate. Ruhullah's exit puts pressure on the NC to explain how it plans to handle its core promise, at a time when the party is in power but J&K is still a Union Territory.
What Happens Next
His speech in Budgam is expected to give a clearer picture of his next political step, including whether he will form a new platform or run as an Independent. After that, the focus shifts to the Speaker's decision on his resignation and to the Election Commission's timeline for a Srinagar bypoll.
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