Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, a senior National Conference (NC) leader, former Cabinet minister and one of Jammu and Kashmir’s longest-serving politicians, passed away on July 14, 2026, at the age of 84 after a prolonged illness. His death marks the end of a political career spanning over five decades.
Born into Kashmir’s most influential political family, Dr Kamal was the son of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah. He was the younger brother of Farooq Abdullah and the uncle of Omar Abdullah.
Though trained as a medical doctor, Dr Kamal devoted his life to politics. He entered electoral politics in the early 1980s, becoming a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council in 1983 before being elected to the Legislative Assembly from the Gulmarg constituency in 1987. He represented the constituency for multiple terms.
During his political career, Dr Kamal served as a Cabinet minister in successive National Conference governments and held several key portfolios. Within the party, he was regarded as one of its chief ideologues and strategists, later serving as Additional General Secretary. He played a central role in shaping the party’s political messaging, election strategy and organisational affairs.
Known for his forthright views and strong oratory, Dr Kamal remained one of the National Conference’s most vocal leaders on issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, including constitutional rights, restoration of statehood and regional politics. He was also recognised for his deep knowledge of Kashmir’s political history and his unwavering loyalty to the National Conference throughout his public life.
Beyond politics, colleagues remembered him as an accessible leader who maintained close contact with party workers and regularly met public delegations to address their concerns.
With his passing, the National Conference loses one of its most experienced leaders and Jammu and Kashmir bids farewell to a politician whose public life was closely intertwined with the political legacy of the Abdullah family and the region’s post-Independence history.
