Jammu and Kashmir Minister and ruling National Conference (NC) leader Javed Ahmad Dar on Monday flatly rejected reports of internal discord within the party, calling them mere 'rumours' spread for television ratings. His remarks came amid mounting public criticism from Srinagar Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who has announced his intention to resign from both the NC and the Lok Sabha.

Minister's Rebuttal

'These rumours are spread for TRPs,' Dar told reporters in Srinagar, firmly dismissing speculation about differences within the party. He insisted that morale within the NC remained high and urged journalists to refrain from amplifying unverified claims. 'There is no such thing. No one is disappointed. Our leader is strong and so is his team,' he said.

Dar also invoked the party's track record of internal discipline, citing the example of 2012 when eight ministers were asked to step back from government roles to focus on party affairs. 'Whatever our leader decides, we are ready to accept it and we should. We have seen this earlier in 2012,' he said, describing the NC as a 'premium and disciplined party.'

The Ruhullah Factor

The minister's assurances, however, sit uneasily alongside the very public statements made by Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in recent weeks. The Srinagar MP has alleged that the NC has failed to fulfil promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. More pointedly, he has claimed that senior party leaders' demand for statehood is, in effect, a manoeuvre to keep the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A off the table permanently.

Ruhullah has publicly announced he will resign from both the NC and the Lok Sabha on 3 November — the day his father, Aga Syed Mehdi, was killed by terrorists 26 years ago. When asked about his relationship with the MP, Dar described Ruhullah as a 'colleague and brother,' signalling at least a public attempt to keep the door open.

Senior Leadership Responds

Senior NC figures have taken a sharper line. Party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and other leaders have reportedly challenged Ruhullah to contest future elections independently, without the NC's organisational backing — a pointed reminder of how much the party infrastructure has historically mattered in Srinagar.

The 'hot and cold' dynamic between Ruhullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has, according to reports, now hardened into a definitive break, with the MP set to formalise his exit next month.

What This Means for the NC

The episode underscores a tension that has simmered within the NC since the party returned to power in Jammu and Kashmir: balancing the expectations of a constituency deeply invested in the restoration of statehood and constitutional protections against the constraints of governing a Union Territory. Ruhullah's departure, if it proceeds as announced, would mark one of the most high-profile exits from the NC in recent memory. How the party manages the optics in the coming weeks — particularly ahead of 3 November — will test the leadership's claim of unity.