National Conference Accuses BJP of Engineering MP's Resignation
The National Conference claims the BJP used Operation Lotus to force Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi to resign from the party and his Lok Sabha seat.
The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of executing 'Operation Lotus' to engineer the resignation of Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi. Mehdi resigned from both the party and his Lok Sabha seat on November 3, alleging the National Conference reneged on promises regarding reservations and the restoration of Article 370.
During a press conference in Srinagar on November 4, NC MLA Salman Ali Sagar claimed the BJP orchestrated the exit to weaken the party's influence in the Kashmir Valley, following similar efforts in Jammu. While Sagar acknowledged Mehdi's right to dissent, he criticized the MP for failing to use internal party forums and for his language toward party leadership. Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen further described the resignation as a betrayal of the party and the electorate.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary characterized the situation as political drama, asserting that the BJP misled Mehdi to dismantle the National Conference. Choudhary cited remarks by BJP leader Ram Madhav, who suggested a recent gathering organized by Mehdi had the BJP's blessings, as evidence that the party is exploiting the departure for political gain. Despite the loss, the National Conference maintains that the departure of a single leader will not alter its core positions on Articles 370 and 35A.
