Srinagar: The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) has decided to consult its grassroots cadre and the public across the Baramulla parliamentary constituency on the expressed intention of Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid to resign from the Lok Sabha, saying any decision should reflect the wishes of the people who elected him.
AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the party’s Committee on Political Affairs held detailed deliberations on the issue and resolved to launch a two-day consultative exercise involving party office-bearers and workers across all 18 Assembly segments of the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency.
“After carefully examining all dimensions of the issue, the Committee on Political Affairs has decided that party functionaries at various levels will deliberate on whether Engineer Rashid should continue as Member of Parliament or relinquish the position,” Inam said.
He said the party could also conduct a secret ballot among its cadre, if required, to ensure members are able to express their views freely and without any pressure.
According to the spokesperson, party office-bearers at the panchayat and block levels will engage with the public and different sections of society to gather feedback before arriving at a final recommendation.
“The objective is to ensure that any decision regarding Engineer Rashid’s future as MP is guided by the wishes and aspirations of the people who reposed their trust in him and the party,” he said.
Inam said the outcome of the consultations, along with the results of any voting process, would be formally communicated to Engineer Rashid to enable him to take an informed decision.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to internal democracy, Inam said AIP believes that major political decisions should be shaped by the collective wisdom of its cadre and the people it represents.
Engineer Rashid had recently expressed his willingness to step down as the Baramulla MP, citing his inability to effectively reach out to and serve the people because of the constraints arising from his incarceration. The AIP has maintained that any final decision will be taken only after completing the consultation process.
