Yawar Hussain
Srinagar: DD, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah’s visit to offer condolences to Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on the passing away of his aunt has led to political circles buzzing about the possible fence mending.
Mehdi, who has been at loggerheads with his party, is considered more closer to senior Abdullah than the junior one.
The visit is also important in the backdrop of Budgam assembly by-polls scheduled later this year.
Mehdi, who has represented the constituency multiple times, is in favour of a local candidate while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is reportedly pitching for his close aide Nasir Aslam Wani, who lost the Kupwara assembly segment last year.
Farooq’s visit comes after an icebreaking was tried by Omar earlier this year, when he sent Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Nasir Aslam Wani to Mehdi’s Budgam residence.
Mehdi had last winter led a protest march against reservation to the gates of CM Omar Abdullah’s Srinagar residence in which NC’s arch rivals and open merit students had participated. Next day, second rung NC leaders had hit out at Mehdi who reciprocated in kind.
Subsequently, Mehdi’s statement in an interview about not being in talking terms with party leadership had led to more speculations about his possible exit from the party.
Last month, in Sopore, Mehdi said that he needed like minded people to carry on his fight for snatched “rights”. His statement led to political pundits opining that he was in process of building a party of his own.
It is in this backdrop that Farooq has paid a visit to Mehdi. Is it an olive branch or is Mehdi part of NC’s classical politics by Kayfabe? DD
Special Correspondent, Kashmir.
