Ahead of Budgam byelection, fault lines within NC widen

With the bypoll for Budgam seat in central Kashmir scheduled less than a fortnight away, fault lines within the National Conference have deepened. While Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has belittled party’s parliamentarian Aga Ruhullah Mehdi by asking reporters “not to compare”, Ruhullah has accused Omar of fighting for his ego.

With elections for the Budgam Assembly constituency, which has been Ruhullah’s forte, around the corner, the infighting is likely to impact the party’s poll prospects, say experts.

The elections scheduled for November 11 are a high-stakes battle for both Omar and Ruhullah.

Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah has locked horns with the National Conference since last year after the reservation review issue when he joined the protests outside Omar Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar. The rift between Omar and Ruhullah put the National Conference on edge.

Now, the infighting between Ruhullah and National Conference has intensified especially when the government has completed one year in office and next month, the byelection is scheduled.

While Omar and his supporters would put everything into the poll battle to capture Ruhullah’s political bastion, it appears to be a fight of political survival for the Shia leader. Ruhullah would make every attempt to showcase that his absence from the electoral process has an impact on these elections.

“The outcome of these elections is also going to decide the relationship between Ruhullah and Omar and the party,” said a Srinagar-based political observer. “The outcome will also reveal who holds the influence in Budgam — National Conference or Ruhullah who has represented the seat multiple times,” he said.

Critical appraisal

Experts also point out to the recent critical appraisal of Omar government by senior leader Mian Altaf. Speaking at a conclave in Srinagar last week, Mian Altaf advised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to “speak responsibly and with understanding”, saying the government’s pace on political and administrative fronts remained slow.

In the same press conference, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he does not want to talk about him (Ruhullah). “Who are you bringing on the same platform? There is a vast difference between the two (Altaf and Ruhullah),” he added.

The National Conference is aware that it can’t afford to make Altaf unhappy because of the leader’s influence over the Pir Panjal region and the tribal population across Jammu and Kashmir. Next day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed the media, saying he considered Altaf like a fatherly figure, and he also requested him to talk to him directly and not through the media.