Srinagar, Aug 25: Srinagar Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Tuesday said he would respond within a few days to National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s call for him to resign from Parliament and seek a fresh mandate from voters.

Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah said he holds Farooq Abdullah in high regard and does not want to disregard a request from the veteran NC leader.

“He has asked for something at this age. I respect him. I don’t want him to ask me for something and I return it to him empty-handed,” Ruhullah said, according to reports.

When asked whether he would accept Abdullah’s challenge and resign from the Lok Sabha, Ruhullah said he would give his answer in a few days.

Farooq Abdullah had on Monday challenged Ruhullah to resign from the Lok Sabha and return to the electorate if he believed his 2024 victory from Srinagar was based on his personal political support. Abdullah also said Ruhullah was free to raise the issue of Article 370 in Parliament.

The exchange comes amid growing differences between Ruhullah and the National Conference leadership over the party’s political approach towards issues including Article 370, statehood and Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional position.

Ruhullah had earlier indicated that he had made up his mind to resign from Parliament within a few months after taking his political campaign to what he described as a certain level. He had also suggested that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah could enter Parliament and lead the political campaign on constitutional issues.

Ruhullah’s latest remarks leave open the possibility of a fresh political development in the coming days, with his decision expected to clarify whether he will accept Farooq Abdullah’s challenge or continue as Srinagar’s Lok Sabha representative.