NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has challenged the National Conference leadership to issue him a show-cause notice amid calls from party functionaries for his resignation, while reaffirming his campaign for the restoration of Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights.

The Srinagar Lok Sabha MP made the remarks in Srinagar on August 22 as differences between him and the party leadership over the political agenda of Jammu and Kashmir continued to surface. Mehdi has argued that the National Conference received a mandate to fight for constitutional rights that were altered after the 2019 changes.

Mehdi Challenges Party

Mehdi said the party should follow a formal process if it believed he had acted against its ideology or political position. He challenged the leadership to issue him a show-cause notice rather than asking him to resign.

The MP said he was continuing the political fight for which voters had given the National Conference a mandate. He also called on the party to stand with him on the issue instead of seeking his resignation.

Article 370 At Centre

Article 370 remains at the centre of Mehdi's disagreement with the National Conference leadership. He has accused the party of diluting its earlier position on Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional rights.

Mehdi said the political focus had moved from Article 370 and constitutional guarantees to the restoration of statehood and, subsequently, governance-related issues. His remarks point to a continuing disagreement over the priorities of the NC-led government.

Resignation Debate Grows

The latest dispute follows earlier remarks by Mehdi about his political future. On August 17, he indicated that he had made up his mind to resign from Parliament within a few months after taking his campaign over Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional and political status to a certain level. He also left open the possibility of reconsidering the decision under specific political circumstances.

His latest challenge to the party leadership comes against this backdrop, adding another layer to the ongoing debate over whether he will remain within the National Conference and continue as its Srinagar MP.

Wani Statement Sparks Row

The immediate controversy followed remarks by National Conference leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister's adviser Nasir Aslam Wani, who said he did not know whether Mehdi was still on the party's rolls.

The exchange has intensified questions about Mehdi's relationship with the party leadership. Wani has separately maintained that restoration of statehood remains a democratic right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and an issue linked to the electoral mandate.

NC Faces Internal Pressure

Mehdi's criticism extends beyond Article 370. On August 23, he also criticised the NC-led Jammu and Kashmir government over unfulfilled election promises, including the proposed 200 units of free electricity and delays in government recruitment.

He argued that political parties must remain accountable to voters and questioned the government's performance after two years in office.

The developments have put the National Conference's internal differences under greater public scrutiny, particularly over the balance between its demand for statehood and the wider question of constitutional rights.

What Happens Next

The immediate question is whether the National Conference will formally respond to Mehdi's challenge or initiate any disciplinary process. No formal show-cause action was established in the reports reviewed for this story.

Mehdi has made clear that he intends to continue raising the constitutional issues he believes formed part of the party's electoral mandate. The next response from the National Conference leadership could determine whether the dispute remains an internal disagreement or develops into a larger political confrontation in Jammu and Kashmir.

For now, NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi's challenge keeps Article 370, statehood and the party's electoral commitments at the centre of the latest Jammu and Kashmir political debate.