Omar Abdullah faces rebellion within NC as two senior leaders question leadership: Report
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is facing an unprecedented rebellion within his own party, with two prominent National Conference parliamentarians openly questioning his leadership and the functioning of his government, according to a media report.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the rare show of dissent from two senior leaders, Agha Ruhullah Mehdi and Mian Altaf Ahmad, has exposed widening cracks within the NC, placing Omar Abdullah in one of his toughest political moments yet, Deccan Herald, an Indian English daily, reported.
The report highlighted Agha Ruhullah, a firebrand MP known for his outspoken views, has accused the party leadership of hiding crucial information about cross-voting in the recent Rajya Sabha elections, calling it a “betrayal of public trust.”
“From Omar’s statement, it is clear that he knows who did the cross-voting but is choosing not to reveal the names. This is not someone’s private shop where such matters can be hidden. This is public property — the trust of the people is at stake,” Ruhullah said.
Ruhullah had already announced that he would not campaign for the party in the upcoming Budgam Assembly bypolls, citing his commitment to principles and disillusionment over, what he said, the Omar Abdullah-led government’s failure to deliver on its promises.
Adding to Omar Abdullah’s political woes, Mian Altaf, who is an influential Gujjar leader, has also broken ranks, accusing the government of failing to address rising unemployment and neglecting the concerns of educated youth. “Lakhs of educated youth with multiple degrees are feeling helpless. Despite promises made during elections, no significant recruitment process has been started,” Altaf said.
The report said that in a rare public rebuke, Altaf also disapproved of Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks on the installation of smart electricity meters, saying Omar “should speak thoughtfully and with understanding.”
The report noted that these twin attacks have come at a politically vulnerable time for Omar Abdullah, whose government is already under intense public criticism for rising prices, a lack of jobs, and slow governance. Furthermore, the BJP-led Indian government’s reluctance to restore occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood has further curtailed his administrative authority, leaving him exposed to accusations of ineffectiveness.
Political analysts have interpreted the statements from Ruhullah and Altaf as serious warning signs. Ahmad Ayaz, a political analyst in Srinagar, told the Deccan Herald: “This is not just routine dissent. It reflects a growing disconnect between Omar and key party constituencies. If this rebellion deepens, it could dent the NC’s credibility and erode Omar’s authority both within the government and the party and the both MPs don’t want to be part of this blame as they have their own public image to protect as politicians and religious leaders.”
