Party says 746 of 773 delegates opposed resignation, 24 supported it, 3 abstained
Srinagar, June 26: A two day internal consultation and secret ballot conducted by the Awami Ittehad Party, AIP, has overwhelmingly rejected the proposal that jailed Member of Parliament Er Rashid should resign from the Lok Sabha.
According to the party, 746 out of 773 delegates voted against his resignation, while 24 supported the proposal and three remained undecided.
The secret ballot was held after Er Rashid reportedly conveyed to the party leadership his intention to step down as MP, citing his prolonged incarceration, which the party said had limited his ability to remain connected with his electorate.
Independent observers Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat and Aijaz Yousuf Shah, who supervised the exercise, said they had no political affiliation with AIP and were invited solely to ensure a free and fair process. They stated that delegates from all 18 Assembly segments of the Baramulla Parliamentary constituency participated in 12 meetings held over two days. Each session lasted around 90 minutes and included discussions on public opinion collected from different sections of society before participants cast their votes through a secret ballot.
The observers described the process as transparent, impartial and conducted according to the participants’ conscience.
In its statement, AIP thanked the delegates, civil society members and the observers for their participation in what it called a unique democratic exercise. The party said it had sought permission to hold the event at Tagore Hall in Srinagar but was not granted approval.
AIP maintained that the ballot reflected public confidence in Er Rashid’s leadership despite his continued detention in Tihar Jail. The party rejected claims that his 2024 Lok Sabha victory was driven only by sympathy, asserting that the result represented support for his political ideology and long standing public work.
The party also renewed its demand for Er Rashid’s release, alleging that his detention was politically motivated. It argued that his willingness to resign demonstrated selflessness and commitment to the people of J&K rather than a desire for political office.
AIP said the outcome of the secret ballot would be conveyed to Er Rashid through his legal team. While urging him to respect the sentiments expressed by the delegates and the public, the party added that the final decision on whether to continue as MP rests entirely with him.
