Sorry that ‘gracious EAM' Sushma Swaraj will leave Parliament: Tharoor
New Delhi, Nov 21: Congress's MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor has said that Sushma Swaraj, who announced yesterday that she will not be contesting next Lok Sabha elections, was a 'gracious External Affairs Minister'. Tharoor took to Twitter and wrote, "For all our political differences, I am sorry that Sushma Swaraj will leave Parliament."
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram earlier said Sushma Swaraj's decision not to contest in 2019 Lok Sabha elections is linked to changing political scenario in Madhya Pradesh. A day after
Swaraj ruled out contesting Lok Sabha elections, Chidambaram called her 'smart' for observing the political climate in the BJP-ruled state.
Swapan Dasgupta
Sushma, who represents Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha in Parliament, had announced her decision in Indore yesterday where she had gone to canvass for the Assembly elections currently underway.
Soon after Sushma's announcement, Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta had come out in her support on Twitter.
[Chidambaram calls Sushma Swaraj 'smart' for announcing retirement]
"Retiring from electoral politics on account of health issues doesn't imply she is retiring from politics altogether. There is a great deal of contribution she can make to public life despite not being in the Lok Sabha," he tweeted.
Appreciating his comment, Sushma tweeted, "You are right, Swapan. I am not retiring from politics. It is just that I am not contesting the next Lok Sabha election due to my health issues."
Shashi Tharoor
Sushma
has
been
suffering
from
diabetes
and
had
undergone
a
kidney
transplant
in
December
2016.
Congress's
MP
from
Thiruvananthapuram
Shashi
Tharoor,
who
is
known
for
his
Twitter
diplomacy,
also
tweeted
his
admiration
for
the
veteran
BJP
leader.
"For all our political differences, I am sorry that Sushma Swaraj will leave Parliament. As chair of the jury for Outlook India's social media awards, I was happy to honour her Twiplomacy. As chair of Parliament's ExtAffsCmt I always found her a gracious EAM," Tharoor tweeted.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
Sushma, gracious in her reply to Tharoor, wrote, "Thanks for your kind words, Shashi. I wish we both continue in our respective positions."
She was elected to 15th and 16th Lok Sabha from Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency. This constituency came into existence in 1967. This constituency covers parts of Raisen, Vidisha, Sehore and Dewas districts.
In a party event held in Indore, Swaraj had said, "It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest next elections." According to reports, Swaraj cited health reasons for not contesting the next elections.