 Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 14: A political storm erupted within the National Conference (NC) on Thursday after Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi took a veiled swipe at what he called the party’s
“arrogant” leadership. Within minutes, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hit back strongly, accusing the senior party leader of having “committed political suicide” by distancing himself from the Budgam by-election campaign.
Referring to the English idiom “cutting your nose to spite your face,” Omar said Ruhullah had “damaged himself politically” by stepping away from the campaign—a move the MP had reportedly intended as a message of displeasure to the party.
“Ruhullah committed political suicide just to send me a message, but this step will prove disastrous for him,” Omar told reporters. “He should remember that the person who has now won from Budgam will never allow him to rise again there.”
The Chief Minister said Ruhullah’s future standing in Budgam would depend entirely on whether he can rebuild his local political base.
“Only Ruhullah can decide whether he will rise again in Budgam or not,” he said. “Whatever happened, happened.”
Omar Abdullah acknowledged that the NC had anticipated a challenging contest even before the campaign began, citing Budgam’s complex electoral behaviour.
“In Budgam, people don’t vote only on development,” he said. “A significant section does not vote on issues at all. Many voters cast their choice quietly, behind the curtain. I knew it wouldn’t be easy for us.”
He added that the defeat was shaped by a mix of silent votes, internal resentment and shifting political sentiment.
“We accept the verdict and move forward,” Omar said, signalling closure even as tensions within the NC continue to simmer. |
