Srinagar, Jun 22: Jailed Member of Parliament and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, is reportedly considering resigning from the Lok Sabha, citing his inability to effectively serve his constituents while being in custody.
Rashid, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail for the past several years in connection with terror-related charges, had emerged as a major political surprise in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections after defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the Baramulla constituency by a margin of over two lakh votes.
According to AIP, Rashid has expressed concern over his limited ability to represent and serve the people who elected him. In response, the party has decided to initiate a wide consultation process with its grassroots cadre across the Baramulla constituency.
AIP spokesperson Inam un Nabi said the party’s Political Affairs Committee has deliberated on the matter and will conduct discussions with office-bearers and workers across all 18 assembly segments to seek their opinion on whether Rashid should continue as MP or step down.
The party is also considering a secret ballot among cadres to ensure free and fair expression of views. Local-level representatives will engage with the public to collect feedback before arriving at a final decision.
The party stated that the objective is to reflect the will of the people who elected him, and the final outcome of the consultation process will be shared with Engineer Rashid for further action.
