Engineer Rashid to resign as Baramulla MP; AIP to consult cadre first
Synopsis
Engineer Rashid won Baramulla from jail — now he wants to quit from jail. His party, the AIP, is refusing to let him go without a democratic check: a two-day grassroots consultation across all 18 Assembly segments, with a possible secret ballot. The outcome could reshape the political landscape of one of J&K's most watched constituencies.
Key Takeaways
Engineer Rashid , incarcerated Baramulla MP , announced on 21 June his intention to resign from the Lok Sabha due to inability to serve his constituency from detention.
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) will not act on the resignation without a two-day consultative exercise spanning all 18 Assembly segments of Baramulla.
The party may hold a secret ballot among cadres to ensure free expression of views.
AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the final decision will be conveyed to Engineer Rashid to enable an informed choice.
Engineer Rashid won the Baramulla seat during the 2024 general elections while in custody, in one of J&K's most closely watched contests.
Incarcerated Baramulla Member of Parliament Engineer Rashid announced on Sunday, 21 June that he intends to resign from the Lok Sabha, citing his inability to attend to constituency affairs while in detention. However, his party, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), has said it will not act on his expressed intention without first consulting grassroots workers and the public across all 18 Assembly segments of the Baramulla parliamentary constituency.
What the AIP Has Decided
The party's Committee on Political Affairs convened to deliberate on Engineer Rashid's stated intention and resolved to launch a two-day consultative exercise involving party office-bearers and cadres at various levels. According to AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, the committee concluded that a decision of this magnitude must be guided by the collective will of those who elected him with what the party described as a 'massive mandate.'
Nabi added that the party may conduct a secret ballot among its cadres, if required, to ensure members can express their views freely and without pressure. Party office-bearers at the panchayat and block levels will also engage with the general public and various sections of society to gather broader feedback.
What Engineer Rashid Said
Engineer Rashid's announcement hinges on a practical concern: his incarceration has rendered him unable to effectively serve the constituency that voted him into office. He has not elaborated publicly on a timeline for the resignation, and the final decision, according to the AIP, will be formally conveyed to him only after the consultation process concludes.
The Consultation Framework
'The objective is to ensure that any decision regarding Engineer Rashid's future as MP is guided by the wishes and aspirations of the people who reposed their trust in him and the party,' Nabi said. The spokesperson emphasised that the outcome of consultations — and any subsequent voting — would be communicated to Engineer Rashid so he can take an informed call.
The AIP reiterated its commitment to internal democracy and public accountability, stating that major political decisions must be shaped by the collective wisdom of its cadre and the electorate it represents.
Context and What Comes Next
Engineer Rashid won the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat while in custody, making his election one of the more unusual outcomes of the 2024 general elections in Jammu and Kashmir. His continued detention has prevented him from taking an active role in parliamentary proceedings, fuelling the resignation question. The two-day consultative exercise is expected to determine whether he formally submits his resignation or continues as MP pending any change in his legal situation.
Point of View
Cannot meet constituents, and now cannot even resign without his party pumping the brakes. The AIP's insistence on a grassroots consultation before accepting the resignation is either a genuine exercise in internal democracy or a delay tactic — possibly both. What it reveals is the fragility of representation when a mandate is won from behind bars. Baramulla's voters chose him knowing he was incarcerated; the harder question is whether that mandate extends to a resignation they may not want.
NationPress
21 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Engineer Rashid want to resign from the Lok Sabha?
Engineer Rashid has stated that his ongoing incarceration prevents him from effectively attending to the affairs of his Baramulla constituency. He cited his inability to reach out to and serve the people who elected him as the primary reason for his resignation announcement.
What is the AIP doing before accepting the resignation?
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) has launched a two-day consultative exercise involving party office-bearers and cadres across all 18 Assembly segments of the Baramulla parliamentary constituency. The party may also conduct a secret ballot among cadres if deemed necessary.
Who is Engineer Rashid and how did he win the Baramulla seat?
Engineer Rashid is the Member of Parliament from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, who won the seat during the 2024 general elections while in detention. His victory was one of the more unusual outcomes of that election cycle in the region.
Will the public have a say in whether Engineer Rashid resigns?
Yes, according to AIP spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, party office-bearers at the panchayat and block levels will engage with the general public and various sections of society to gather feedback. The final opinion will reflect sentiments expressed during this consultation.
What happens after the consultation process concludes?
The outcome of the consultations — and any subsequent voting — will be formally conveyed to Engineer Rashid, enabling him to take an informed decision on whether to proceed with his resignation from the Lok Sabha.
