NC's Aga Ruhullah Mehdi: Shia Cleric And Electoral Dynamic In Srinagar
In a major political shuffle, National Conference (NC) leadership decided to field Shia cleric Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. The capital constituency was considered as a home turf of Abdullahs – held previously by former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of the NC. In the upcoming election, he will lock horns with Waheed Parra of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the battleground.
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi comes from an influential Aga family in Budgam which has provided religious leadership to valley”s Shia Muslims over many decades and has presented political leaders. Aga Syed Mehdi joined the party after Aga syed Mehdi, his father was assassinated by terrorists in an IED blast in November 2000.
Aga Ruhullah Mehdi represented Budgam assembly segment three times; in 2002, 2008 and 2014. He served as a Cabinet minister in the Omar Abdullah’s NC-Congress coalition government from 2009 to 2014. Besides, Mehdi served as the National Spokesperson of the party.
Mehdi has always been vocal about his discontent regarding abrogation of special status to Kashmir. In an interview with Rising Kashmir, Mehdi said: “Over the last five years, people have been in deep distress and fear, hesitant to discuss Article 370. Through this election, I aim to encourage people to speak up about injustice and their rights. Then, through Parliament, we can highlight that the people of J&K are not content with the decision and demand the restoration of special status.”
The Sunni-dominated Srinagar region is currently represented by former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. Since Shia community constitutes minority in the Valley, the community feels that the government and administration perceives their votes are “either inconsequential or taken for granted”, Business Standard reports, as author Hakim Sameer Hamdani is saying. So by nominating prominent Shia leader, NC leadership is attempting to shift the much-followed narrative.
