New Delhi, November 20: After Minister of External Affairs (MEA) Sushma Swaraj announced her decision not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, her husband Swaraj Kaushal tweeted and said "Thank you" to the minister for the decision. Kaushal also said in his tweet that "even Milkha Singh stopped running". Sushma Swaraj Not to Contest in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Senior BJP leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced on Tuesday that she will not contest the next Lok Sabha polls due to health reasons. The 66-year-old leader, who is serving her fourth term in the House and has long been her party’s most prominent woman face, told reporters, “It is the party which decides, but I have made up my mind not to contest the next (Lok Sabha) elections due to health reasons.”

Swaraj had undergone kidney transplant in 2016. “After being elected from Vidisha as Lok Sabha MP, I was the Leader of Opposition. Later I was given the responsibility of External Affairs Ministry. Despite holding these prime posts, I used to visit all Assembly segments in my constituency every month for nearly eight years.

“Doctors have advised me that I should avoid exposure to dust. Because of this, I am unable to take part even in election rallies,” she said. “Due to health reasons, I cannot participate in outdoor public programmes…. I have also told my party leadership, that in view of health reasons, I have to avoid such exposure,” Swaraj said. (With Agency Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 11:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).