Srinagar, Aug 31, KDC: The People’s Civil Society Jammu & Kashmir has appealed to Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi to reconsider any decision to resign from Parliament, arguing that his elected mandate belongs to the people who voted for him and should not become a casualty of an internal political dispute.
In a statement issued here, the civil society organisation expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the proposed resignation of Mehdi and said the issue should not be viewed merely as a personal or organisational matter within the National Conference.
According to the organisation, the larger issue at stake is the democratic mandate given by voters, who elected Mehdi with the expectation that he would represent their concerns and aspirations in Parliament.
“People gave Ruhullah Mehdi their mandate so that their voice could be heard in Parliament. That mandate is not the property of the National Conference leadership, nor can it be treated as an internal party asset,” the statement said.
The People’s Civil Society questioned the manner in which the issue has allegedly been handled by the National Conference leadership. It said that while political parties were entitled to disagree with elected representatives, party differences should not override an MP’s accountability to the electorate and the Constitution.
“An MP is accountable to the electorate and to the Constitution not merely to a party hierarchy,” the organisation said, adding that creating a situation in which an elected representative is expected to surrender a seat entrusted to him by voters raises questions about respect for the electorate.
The civil society organisation also made a direct appeal to Mehdi to move beyond the current political confrontation and focus on the mandate he received from the people.
“We appeal to Ruhullah Mehdi, leave the politics of internal confrontation aside and look towards the people who elected you,” it said.
The organisation maintained that voters had not cast their ballots merely for a party office or political faction, but for representation in Parliament.
“They expected you to speak for them in Parliament. Their mandate should not become collateral damage in a dispute between political leaders,” the statement said.
The People’s Civil Society also urged the National Conference leadership to undertake what it described as “serious introspection”, arguing that party discipline should not amount to political ownership of an elected representative’s mandate.
“An elected MP is not a nominee who can be recalled whenever political differences emerge. The electorate is the ultimate source of democratic authority,” it said.
The organisation further invoked Jammu & Kashmir’s electoral participation, saying people have continued to place faith in democratic institutions despite difficult political circumstances. It said voters stand in queues, exercise their franchise and entrust representatives with the responsibility of raising their problems before institutions of governance.
“That trust cannot be treated casually,” the statement said, describing a parliamentary seat not as a “prize distributed by a political leadership” but as “a responsibility entrusted by the people.”
The People’s Civil Society said the controversy should serve as a reminder to political parties in Jammu & Kashmir that the interests of the electorate must take precedence over organisational interests, individual personalities and internal political calculations. (KDC)
