NC leader Farooq Abdullah to sit out Lok Sabha polls due to health reasons: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Apr 3: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, who is the sitting Member of Parliament from Srinagar constituency, has decided not to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to health issues, as announced by party Vice President Omar Abdullah.

Addressing party workers at an event in Rawalpora recently, Omar Abdullah informed that his father Farooq Abdullah has taken permission from the party's General Secretary and other senior leaders to withdraw from the upcoming parliamentary polls owing to medical reasons.

Omar said that it is now the party's responsibility to field the strongest candidate for the Srinagar seat. He expressed hope that with voters' support, the selected candidate would be able to effectively represent people's voices in the national capital.

An iconic figure in Jammu and Kashmir politics, 86-year-old Farooq Abdullah has served in various roles over the past few decades. He was first elected to the state assembly in 1972 and then went on to become Chief Minister multiple times.

In 2002, he handed over the party leadership duties to Omar Abdullah and shifted his focus to the central government by getting elected to the Rajya Sabha. Over the years, he has represented the Srinagar constituency thrice in the Lok Sabha – in 2009, 2017, and 2019 elections.

Omar Abdullah emphasized that the upcoming polls would witness increased voter turnout without threats or boycott calls typically seen in the past. He urged people of Srinagar to participate actively and choose their preferred representative to ensure their issues are heard in Delhi.

SEO Title: Farooq Abdullah cites health issues, decides not to contest 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Srinagar seat 

SEO Description: National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, MP from Srinagar, has opted out of the upcoming parliamentary elections due to medical reasons, as announced by his son Omar Abdullah. The party will field another candidate.

SEO Slug: farooq-abdullah-wont-contest-ls-polls-due-to-health-reasons

Focus Keyword: Farooq Abdullah health issues Lok Sabha elections 2019 Srinagar seat