Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, along with senior National Conference (NC) leaders, visited the residence of the party’s estranged MP, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, in Budgam district on Saturday.
The visit was part of Choudhary’s official tour of Budgam, where he was accompanied by Nasir Aslam Wani, an advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and NC MLA Ali Mohammad Dar from Chadoora.
The National Conference announced the visit on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Deputy CM @Surinderch55 along with Advisor to CM @nasirsogami visited Budgam & met with Member Parliament @RuhullahMehdi at his residence today.”
A party leader mentioned that the meeting was informal and included tea at Mehdi’s residence, without sharing further details.
When asked if the visit was related to Mehdi’s estrangement from the NC or the upcoming bypoll in Budgam, both Choudhary and Mehdi denied any such connection.
Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said, “This is my first visit here. Aga sahab is not just a political leader but also a respected religious figure. I feel fortunate to meet him.” Mehdi echoed the sentiment, saying the visit had no political motive.
The bypoll in Budgam became necessary after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who contested and won from both Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies in the last assembly elections, vacated the Budgam seat.
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Tensions between Abdullah and Mehdi had flared in recent months. In December, Mehdi participated in an anti-reservation protest outside the chief minister’s residence, which led to criticism from the NC.
Abdullah later challenged Mehdi to protest in Delhi for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, a challenge Mehdi accepted publicly.
Despite these tensions, Choudhary, Wani, and Mehdi, along with other officials, conducted an extensive tour of Budgam district during the visit. Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo and senior officers from various departments were also present.
Speaking at a gathering, Choudhary highlighted the government’s efforts to focus on development in neglected and remote areas. He stated, “We are committed to fast-paced, sustained development while ensuring quality and addressing local needs. Significant progress has already been made in upgrading infrastructure and improving the socio-economic profile of the people.”
The visit aimed to project unity and development amidst ongoing political and social challenges in the region.
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