Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi to resign from Lok Sabha and NC after Farooq Abdullah's challenge

National Conference MP from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, declared his intention to resign from the Indian Parliament and the party, responding to a public dare issued by patriarch Farooq Abdullah. He plans to send his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on November 3, coinciding with the 26th death anniversary of his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, who was killed by terrorists. In a letter to Farooq, who remains NC president, Mehdi highlighted what he sees as a contradiction in the party’s stance on Article 370, describing it as shorthand for the struggle to restore Kashmiri rights and dignity.

He lamented that nearly 65% of the region’s population is young, facing joblessness, resource exploitation, and pressure on religious and linguistic traditions. The move comes after growing criticism of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the party’s focus on statehood over broader issues, including a large student protest Mehdi led in December 2024 against the UT’s reservation policy. Earlier this week, Farooq accused Mehdi of using Article 370 for personal gain and claimed he would not have won his seat without the party’s support.