The announcement at a massive public gathering at Behisht-e-Zehra Park in Budgam on Tuesday marks a significant turning point in Kashmir politics and comes amid widening differences between Ruhullah and the NC leadership headed by Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Ruhullah’s decision stems from what he has described as the party leadership’s failure to honour key electoral commitments made during the 2024 Assembly elections, particularly the promise to pursue restoration of Article 370, protection of constitutional rights and release of political prisoners. He has also been vocal in his criticism of the government’s handling of the reservation issue.
Once among the NC’s prominent campaigners during the 2024 Assembly elections, Ruhullah gradually emerged as one of its strongest critics after the party formed the government under Omar Abdullah. His public criticism of the leadership and participation in protests over reservation policy further widened the political divide.
His departure comes at a sensitive juncture for the ruling party, which has also faced internal dissent following the recent Cabinet expansion. The exit of a prominent parliamentarian who played a significant role in the party’s electoral campaign could have wider implications for its political standing in Kashmir.
Ruhullah’s electoral strength was demonstrated in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when he secured an impressive 3,56,866 votes (52.85 per cent) from the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. He defeated his nearest rival, PDP candidate Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, who polled 1,68,450 votes, by a commanding margin of 1,88,416 votes. The decisive mandate underlined his considerable personal political standing beyond his association with the NC.
His next political move, particularly whether he intends to build an independent political platform or contest a possible by-election, is likely to attract considerable attention. His departure also raises questions about the NC’s ideological direction, its ability to accommodate dissent and the political future of the Omar Abdullah-led government.
The development could mark the beginning of a new political chapter in Kashmir, with its impact on the NC and emerging political alignments likely to become clearer in the coming days.