# NC MP Ruhullah calls LG office an undemocratically imposed institution 2026-09-16T22:11:36+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has described the office of the lieutenant governor in Jammu and Kashmir as an "undemocratically imposed institution" akin to a colonial viceroy. He said he does not recognise the institution and will not raise the reservation issue with the LG, as that would legitimise the setup. The estranged National Conference MP, who has set a November 3 deadline to leave the party, said the Parliament is the right forum to raise the reservation issue. He had led a protest outside Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's residence in December 2024 against the 67% reservation policy for jobs and professional courses in the UT. Mehdi said he would join the chief minister if he leads a protest outside Lok Bhavan. The LG-led administration amended the Reservation Act in April 2024, expanding quota from 43% to 67%, leaving general category candidates with 33% share. The cabinet sub-committee report on reservation is now with the LG. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Greater Kashmir's report treats Mehdi's remarks as a routine political statement, quoting his views without contextualising them within the larger Article 370 debate. Frontline's interview foregrounds the constitutional grievance, framing the resignation as a consequence of the NC's retreat from its core promise. The divergence shows how the same facts can be presented either as a local political dispute or as a symptom of a deeper constitutional conflict. The actual test of this framing lies in how other parties respond and whether the reservation sub-committee report is made public. ## Coverage - greaterkashmir.com (neutral report) Reports Mehdi's criticism of LG office without editorial framing or endorsement - frontline.thehindu.com (government critical) Focuses on Mehdi's accusation that NC abandoned the mandate on Article 370 Tags: Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor, National Conference, reservation policy Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/nc-mp-ruhullah-calls-lg-office-an-undemocratically-imposed-institution/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/nc-mp-ruhullah-calls-lg-office-an-undemocratically-imposed-institution/#story-in-brief