Jammu, Nov. 1 -- Amid a politically surcharged atmosphere across Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the impending resignation of National Conference (NC) Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on November 3 from the party and the Lok Sabha, cabinet minister Javed Ahmed Rana on Saturday claimed that Ruhullah's exit would not affect the party and that the "NC government under chief minister Omar Abdullah remains strong".

Fielding media queries here after visiting Shiv Market near Jammu Railway Station where around 30 shops were gutted in a major fire incident recently, the Mendhar MLA said, "If Aga Sahib decides to leave, he will leave alone. Why would his exit affect the party? The party will remain united."

Ruhullah had become one of the str...