Says absence of statehood creating difficulties for J&K govt; indicates Cabinet reshuffle soon
Anantnag, Oc 21: National Conference MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi on Wednesday played down the possible exit of party MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, saying the departure of individual leaders would not affect the organisation, even as he acknowledged that the absence of statehood was creating difficulties for the Jammu and Kashmir government.
“Bade aaye bade gaye, in se koi farak nahi padta party ko (big names come and go, it makes no difference to the party),” Larmi, who represents the Anantnag West Assembly constituency, said as per The Web Story/The Varmul Post.
He also indicated that a Cabinet reshuffle was expected soon.
MLA Larmi also acknowledged that the absence of statehood was creating difficulties for the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, which continues to function under the Union Territory framework.
MLA Larmi’s remarks come amid escalating differences between the NC leadership and Ruhullah, who has announced that he will resign from both the party and Parliament on November 3, the 26th death anniversary of his father.
Aga Syed Ruhullah, who won the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on an NC ticket in 2024, has been critical of the party leadership over its position on the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, which was revoked following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
A prominent Shia cleric and former MLA from Budgam, Aga Ruhullah resigned as the party’s chief spokesperson in July 2020, objecting to the NC’s emphasis on restoring statehood rather than prioritising the restoration of special status.
The differences intensified after the NC returned to power in 2024, with Ruhullah accusing the leadership of failing to honour its electoral commitments on Article 370 and the political rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He also alleged that the party’s position on the issue had become no different from that of the BJP.
The latest confrontation followed NC president Farooq Abdullah’s public challenge to Ruhullah to resign and seek a fresh mandate. Accepting the challenge, the Srinagar MP said he would not be part of what he described as “lies and betrayal” and announced November 3 as the date for his resignation.
