With the National Conference (NC) celebrating a significant victory in the recent assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, many are crediting the success to Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the Member of Parliament from Srinagar.
The NC emerged as the single largest party in the elections held after a decade and the first since J&K lost its special status under Article 370, securing 42 out of 90 assembly constituencies. Its pre-poll ally, the Congress, won 6 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed 29 seats, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 3 seats.
According to political analysts, the NC’s strong sentimental vote base in the Assembly elections largely centred around Mehdi’s consistent stance on Article 370, attracting both traditional non-voters and first-time voters.
The 47-year-old Mehdi, who rebranded his political approach after August 2019 is recognised for his outspoken stance on the abrogation of Article 370, and has been a key figure in the NC’s election rallies and campaigns, primarily in the Valley.
Hailing from central Kashmir’s Budgam, 13 kilometres from Srinagar Mehdi’s parliamentary speeches criticising the BJP and its policies, along with his strong stance on key issues, struck a chord with voters and played a significant role in the party's performance. For example, during the assembly election rallies across Kashmir, Mehdi became the most sought-after campaigner and “superstar speaker” among NC candidates, receiving an enthusiastic response from crowds eager to catch a glimpse of him.
Even Iltija Mufti, the daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and her media advisor, openly expressed in an interview that she loves listening to Mehdi's speeches.
His presence at election rallies, even in areas previously known for poll boycotts, has sparked crowds to chant in his favour.
“We cast over 18,000 votes for Mehdi in the Lok Sabha elections this year. Despite being from the Shia community, we Sunnis respect him as our political leader who speaks fearlessly on our behalf, and we will continue to support him,” said Ali Muhammad, an NC worker in south Kashmir's Pulwama.
In the Lok Sabha elections, Mehdi triumphed over PDP leader Waheed Para by more than 1.88 lakh votes and later took his oath in Kashmiri, showcasing the vibrant linguistic diversity of Jammu and Kashmir.
In many of his speeches in the Valley, Mehdi consistently warned against any collaboration with the BJP, capturing significant attention from the public and ultimately helped the NC gain traction in a challenging political landscape.
Analysts pointed out that even J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who lost the Lok Sabha elections in June, contested assembly elections from Budgam, Mehdi's home constituency, and successfully won the seat.
Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst and former professor at the University of Kashmir, termed Mehdi as an important figure in the NC, founded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in June 1939.
“While the NC has its own reputation, Mehdi has successfully cultivated a strong public image that has bolstered his party. His consistent stance on various issues, including the revocation of Article 370, helped him win the Srinagar parliamentary seat. Even after winning the Lok Sabha election, he has maintained his position, showing a commitment to Kashmir’s interests. He has presented logical arguments in parliament, which has enhanced his credibility and popularity,” Baba told Moneycontrol.
Mehdi, who comes from a religious family and embodies a blend of religion and politics, has experienced a steady rise in support throughout his political career, as demonstrated by his winning margins in assembly elections. In 2002, when he first contested from the Budgam assembly segment, he received 11,398 votes, which increased to 19,652 in 2008 and 30,090 in 2014.
According to NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar, Mehdi has openly addressed J&K’s critical issues, creating a distinct fanbase that has ultimately helped the party in electoral success. “Our success is a result of a collective team effort and the party’s manifesto, but Mehdi has been pivotal in attracting people, especially the youth, to participate in elections. His speeches, particularly his confrontations with BJP leaders in parliament, resonate with the public,” Dar told Moneycontrol.
Mehdi first came into the spotlight for his rebranded politics in July 2020 when he resigned as the NC’s chief spokesperson, distancing himself from the party’s stance of remaining silent about the situation in J&K following the abrogation of Article 370. “What happened on August 5, 2019, goes beyond statehood. Our primary demand must be the restoration of special status, with statehood as our last demand. The mainstream politicians should not focus solely on holding assembly elections in the Union Territory,” he said in 2020.
When asked the reason for his rise as a politician, Mehdi told Moneycontrol that when most of the political leaders in J&K remained silent, he remained consistent and maintained his political stand on the abrogation of Article 370. “When non one was speaking after the abrogation of Article 370, I spoke fearlessly and filled the vacuum. I have nothing personal with anyone but I am not okay with BJP’s ideology which is why I have been speaking against them time and again. Politics is considered bad in this part of the world but I have shown how honesty, fearlessness and selflessness can make it progressive,” said Mehdi who got married in January this year.
Mehdi emphasised that the Omar Abdullah-led government should honour the public mandate by aligning its actions with the people’s wishes, particularly by restoring Article 370 and reinstating statehood to empower the state.
However, many people including a senior journalist with a local English daily, told Moneycontrol that Mehdi is a good leader in the wrong party. “Unlike other NC leaders, Mehdi appears to be an upright and sensible leader. However, leaving the party is also not a viable option for him, as he might risk losing his identity.”
Baba also agreed and said that by leaving the NC, one of the oldest political parties in J&K, Mehdi could lose relevance, as he is currently benefiting the party while the NC is benefiting from him.
Before being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in June of this year, Mehdi, an influential Shia leader and cleric, served three terms in the J&K legislative assembly from 2002 to 2018.
He also gained recognition as the youngest cabinet minister in India and held various ministerial positions, including portfolios such as Science and Technology and Animal Husbandry.
His father, Agha Syed Mehdi, another prominent Kashmiri Shia religious leader and politician, was killed in a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Kanihama village, Budgam district, in central Kashmir in 2001.
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