Jammu, Nov 3: Ruhullah Mehdi rally drew a political reaction on Tuesday, with BJP National Vice-President Ram Madhav saying the dissident National Conference (NC) MP was holding the gathering with the blessings of “our people”.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Madhav said the National Conference was visibly divided. However, he declined to comment further on the party’s internal situation.
“I would not like to comment on the matter, but the National Conference is visibly divided today,” he said.
“Ruhullah is holding the rally today with the blessings of our people.”
Ram Madhav previously played a crucial role in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015-2016.
He maintained that the BJP had no involvement in the NC’s internal affairs. He also clarified that statements by BJP legislators did not necessarily reflect the party’s official position.
“Let me reiterate that we have no involvement in the internal affairs of the National Conference. Whatever statements our (BJP) MLAs make are a separate matter. This is entirely an internal matter of the NC and its leaders are fighting among themselves,” he said.
Several BJP MLAs and senior leaders have claimed that the NC is heading towards a split. They have also suggested that the Omar Abdullah-led Jammu and Kashmir government could collapse amid growing dissent within the ruling party.
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Ram Madhav Calls NC Rift an Internal Matter
“Today, one of their (NC’s) own MPs has come out and is holding a programme… That is their internal affair. What do we (BJP) have to do with it?” Madhav said.
When asked about possible political developments and their implications, the BJP National Vice-President declined to speculate. He said the situation would have to unfold before anyone could draw conclusions.
Madhav is on a day-long visit to Jammu. During the visit, he held a closed-door meeting with senior BJP leaders at the party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar.
His visit comes amid reports of growing dissent among NC MLAs following Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent Cabinet expansion.
Ruhullah Announces Resignation from NC and Lok Sabha
Meanwhile, NC MP and senior Shia Muslim leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi held a large public rally in Budgam town on Tuesday. He announced his resignation from the NC’s primary membership and declared his decision to relinquish his Lok Sabha seat.
Ruhullah represents the Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the seat in the 2024 elections as an NC candidate.
He also submitted his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday. In his letter to the Speaker, Ruhullah described his decision as voluntary and genuine.
“The resignation is voluntary and genuine and is tendered of my own free will,” the letter stated.
He also requested the Speaker to accept his resignation.
With Ruhullah’s resignation announcement, the NC would have only one Lok Sabha seat if the Speaker formally accepts it. Of Jammu and Kashmir’s five parliamentary seats, the BJP holds two. Incarcerated leader Engineer Rashid holds one, while senior NC leader Mian Altaf Ahmad holds another.
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— IANS
