Aga Syed Ruhullah Resigns from Lok Sabha and National Conference
Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi resigned from his parliamentary seat and the National Conference on November 3, citing betrayals over Article 370.
Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi resigned from both the Lok Sabha and the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference on November 3, 2026. He formalized the decision during a rally at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam, timing the announcement to coincide with the death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi Mustafa.
Mehdi accused the National Conference leadership of treating Jammu and Kashmir as a family estate and betraying election promises regarding the restoration of Article 370, the release of prisoners, and the protection of regional rights. He characterized the move as a politics of conscience based on principle rather than personal grievance, explicitly denying any involvement in horse-trading.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Rana responded by asserting that the party remains robust under the leadership of Dr. Farooq Abdullah and that Mehdi's departure would not affect the organization. While some ministers suggested he return, independent lawmaker Shabir Ahmad Kullay urged him to retain his parliamentary seat to ensure Kashmir maintains its voice in Parliament.
Mehdi won the Srinagar seat in 2024 by a margin of 1.88 lakh votes. His resignation leaves the seat vacant, necessitating a by-election within six months, which is expected to result in a direct contest between Mehdi and the National Conference.
