Veteran BJP Leader Harsh Vardhan Quits Politics After Being Denied Lok Sabha Ticket

New Delhi: A day after being denied Lok Sabha ticket, former Union Health Minister and Chandini Chowk MP Harsh Vardhan on Sunday announced his retirement from politics.

The veteran BJP leader said he will be returning to his roots, ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar.

The saffron party, which released its first list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls on Saturday, dropped the two-term MP and instead named Praveen Khandelwal as its candidate from Chandi Chowk.

Vardhan posted an elaborate message on X while bidding farewell to 30 years long political 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 noted that his choice to join politics was driven by a determination to tackle poverty, disease, and ignorance, aligning with the ethos of the Antodaya philosophy advocated by Deen Dayal Upadhyay. “Service to mankind was my motto when I joined MBBS in GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, fifty years back with a desire to help the poor and needy,” he wrote in the post.

Vardhan made significant contributions to public health, serving as the Health Minister for both the Delhi and the Union governments. He played a crucial role in eradication of polio and effectively managing the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

“Without remorse, I must say that it has been a marvellous 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,” he further said.

Expressing gratitude to his supporters, party members, and leaders, Vardhan added, “I must acknowledge that I consider it a 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.”

“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.”