Dr Harsh Vardhan retiring from politics and going back to his roots- ENT

New Delhi: After a long political career of 30 years, the former Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has announced his decision to quit electoral politics.

In an X post, Dr Harsh Vardhan mentioned that he has promises to keep and announced his decision to go back to his ENT Clinic at Krishna Nagar. He further mentioned that he would continue to pursue his work against tobacco and substance abuse, against climate change as well as teaching simple and sustainable lifestyles.

The former Minister's announcement comes after the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Saturday announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and MP Dr Harsh Vardhan's name did not figure from his Chandni Chowk constituency for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Choosing new faces in Delhi, the party dropped four sitting MPs- Dr Harsh Vardhan, Parvesh Verma, Ramesh Bidhuri, and Meenakashi Lekhi, adds ANI. Following this, on Sunday, Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced bowing out of active politics.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dr Vardhan mentioned that he will return to his roots after over 30 years of a "glorious electoral career". "After over thirty years of a glorious electoral career, during which I won all the five assembly and two parliamentary elections that I fought with exemplary margins, and held a multitude of prestigious positions in the party organisation and the governments at the state and centre I finally bow out to return to my roots," he mentioned in his post.

The former Health Minister mentioned that "service to mankind" was his motto when he joined MBBS in GSVM Medical College, Kanpur fifty years back "with a desire to help the poor and needy."

"A swayamsewak at heart, I have always been an ardent admirer of Deen Dayal Upadhyay ji’s Antodaya philosophy of striving to serve the last man in the queue. It was at the insistence of the then RSS leadership that I jumped into the electoral fray. They could convince me only because for me politics meant opportunity to fight our three main enemies - poverty, disease and ignorance," he mentioned.

Looking back at his political career, he added that "Without remorse, I must say that it has been a marvelous innings during which my passion to serve the common man was quenched. I served as Delhi Health Minister as well as twice Union Health Minister, a subject close to my heart. I had the rare opportunity bestowed upon me to be able to first work towards creating a Polio free Bharat and then to take care of the health of millions of our countrymen grappling with the dreaded COVID-19 during its first and second phases."

"In the long history of mankind, only a few have been granted the privilege to defend their people in hours of gravest danger! And I can proudly claim that I didn’t shirk responsibility, but welcomed it. My gratitude to Ma Bharati, my reverence to my fellow citizens and my obeisance to the values enshrined in our Constitution. And yes, that was the biggest privilege that Bhagwan Shri Ram bestowed upon me, the privilege of being able to save human lives !!" he further added.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan acknowledged and thanked all the party karyakartas, fans, supporters amongst the common citizens, party leaders. He also acknowledged his "great privilege to have worked closely with the most dynamic Prime Minister in India’s history, Shri Narendra Modi ji". "The country wishes him a heroic return to power again," he added.

"I shall continue to pursue my work against tobacco and substance abuse, against climate change and teaching simple and sustainable lifestyles. A big shout out for all those who stood by me like a rock while I clocked many firsts and led a fulfilled political life," he added.

Announcing his decision to go back to his ENT clinic and re-join his duties as a doctor, he further mentioned in the X post, "I move on, I really can’t wait. I have promises to keep .. and miles to go before I sleep !! I have a dream .. and I know your blessings shall always remain with me . My ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar too awaits my return"

In 2014, Dr Vardhan had defeated Kapil Sibal, then with the Congress, to win the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat while in the 2019 polls, he trounced Congress’ Jai Prakash Agarwal.

Dr Harsh Vardhan led the country's health system throughout this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis and termed the doctors along with all the healthcare workers of India as COVID warriors for their selfless service and sacrifice during the pandemic. In 2020, he announced a new category called 'Wards of COVID Warriors' in the guidelines for selection and nomination of candidates against Central Pool MBBS seats for the academic Year 2020-21.

In the first list of 195 candidates declared by the BJP, Praveen Khandelwal has been fielded from Chandni Chowk, a seat which Vardhan holds at present, adds PTI.

Also Read: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan resigns, Mansukh Mandaviya takes charge