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Sushma Swaraj bows out from contesting 2019 polls

However, after citing health reasons, she left it to the party to take a final decision

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Sushma Swaraj
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In what was an announcement out of the blue, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday ruled herself out from the 2019 general elections. However, after citing health reasons, she left it to the party to take a final decision. "It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next (Lok Sabha) elections," the 66-year-old minister said in Indore. In the 2014 general election, she won the Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a second term, retaining her seat by a margin of over 400,000 votes.

In the run up to the last polls, she was also seen rising within the party ranks with then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, vying to be declared the prime ministerial candidate. Soon after her announcement, her husband Swaraj Kaushal tweeted, a big "thank you". "Madam — Thank you very much for your decision not to contest any more elections. I remember there came a time when even Milkha Singh stopped running," he posted from his restricted account.

"This marathon has been on since 1977 — that is 41 years. You have contested 11 direct elections. In fact you contested all elections held since 1977 except twice when party did not allow you to contest in 1991 and 2004," he wrote, adding, "I am also running behind you for the last 47 years. I am no longer a 19 years old. Please — I am also running out of breath. Thank you."

Sources in her family confirmed that Swaraj decided to stay away from elections due to health reasons. She needed to avoid infections and was taking precautions because of her health, said her family sources. In 2016, Swaraj successfully underwent a kidney transplant at AIIMS. She was back in Parliament in March 2017.

One of the most powerful ministers of the current cabinet, Swaraj became the darling of netizens due to her proactive approach on social media, providing help to thousands in distress.

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