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Srinagar, Oct 14 (IANS) National Conference (NC) MP and senior party leader Agha Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has created a stir by deciding to stay away from election campaigning in his native Budgam assembly constituency, following which Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday avoided answering related questions.
Avoiding a question about Ruhullah’s statement, the CM said, “I don’t know anything about it”.
Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi is an influential Shia Muslim leader of Budgam and holds great influence among the people in Budgam due to his family’s religious background.
Speaking to reporters on whether he would campaign for the NC during the by-election to the Budgam assembly seat, Ruhullah said, “I had campaigned for the party (NC) last year, promising the people to fulfill their aspirations with regard to politics and development. The party has not been able to fulfill any of the promises made to the people. How can I go to the people again and ask them to vote for the party, when we He has not been able to fulfill any of his election promises.” 2024?”
“Yes, individually, I can participate in elections as a voter,” he said.
Omar Abdullah won the Budgam assembly seat in the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. He later resigned from Budgam after deciding to retain the Ganderbal assembly seat as he had won both the Budgam and Ganderbal assembly seats.
The Election Commission on Monday issued a notification for by-elections to Budgam and Nagrota assembly seats, which fell vacant after the demise of the sitting MLA, BJP’s Devendra Singh Rana, on October 31, 2024.
When journalists asked to comment on Ruhullah’s statement, Omar Abdullah refused to give a direct answer. The Chief Minister was actually avoiding the question, because Ruhulla’s not participating in the election campaign for his party is tantamount to rebellion.
Ruhulla has been embroiled in political controversies after winning the Lok Sabha seat from Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha constituency as the NC candidate in 2024.
In a related development, Apni party chief Altaf Bukhari’s chief spokesperson Muntazir Mohiuddin has announced his decision to contest the Budgam assembly by-election as an independent candidate.
–IANS
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