"I finally bow out...": Denied BJP ticket from Chandni Chowk, Harsh Vardhan quits politics, to return to medical practice

New Delhi [India], March 3 : Day after being replaced from Delhi's Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, which he held since 2014, with Praveen Khandelwal, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, announced on Sunday that he was quitting active politics.
"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," the senior BJP leader ppsted from his official X handle on Sunday.
On his future endeavours, Dr Vardhan said he wanted to devote more time to his work against tobacco consumption, substance abuse, and climate change. Also a medical professional, he also hinted at a return to his ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar.
"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. 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," he posted further.
He said 'service to mankind' was his motto when he pursued MBBS at GSVM Medical College, adding that he forayed into active politics 50 years ago afrer being convinced by the then leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP ideological mentor, to take the plunge.
He said politics, for him, meant an opportunity to "fight our three main enemies--poverty, disease and ignorance".
"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. 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," the BJP leader posted further.
"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," he added.
He said he was among to have been granted the "privilege to defend their people in hours of gravest danger", adding that he can proudly proclaim that he didn't "shirk responsibility but welcomed it".
"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 said.
Coming out in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the former Union Minister said he was honoured to have worked alongside "one of India's most impactful prime ministers in recent history".
Affirming the country wants to bring PM Modi back for a third straight term in office, the BJP veteran said, "I would like to thank all my party karyakartas, my fans and supporters amongst the common citizens as well as my party leaders .. all of whom have contributed to this remarkable journey spanning over three decades. 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."