The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Sunday said it would consult its grassroots workers before taking a call on MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid intention to resignSRINAGAR: The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) Sunday decided to seek the opinion of its cadres on party president jailed MP Engineer Rashid's proposal to resign from Parliament.According to the party Rashid wants to step down as he believes his prolonged arrest has prevented him from effectively reaching out to and serving the people who elected him with a massive mandate.In a statement here, AIP spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said that the party held detailed deliberations on the matter and resolved to initiate a broad-based consultation process across all 18 Assembly constituencies of the Baramulla parliamentary constituency, which Rashid represents."The party functionaries at various levels will participate in a two-day consultative exercise to deliberate on whether Engineer Rashid should continue as member of Parliament or relinquish the position," Nabi said. He said the party may, if required, conduct a secret ballot among its cadres to ensure that members can express their views freely and without any pressure. "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.Rashid, founder of AIP, has been in Tihar jail since August 9, 2019, after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him in a terror-funding case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Rashid rejects the charges. He was arrested four days after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. However, while in jail, his political career took a dramatic turn in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when he won from north Kashmir’s Baramulla constituency by a huge margin, defeating NC vice president Omar Abdullah.On May 18 this year, the Delhi High Court had granted interim bail to Rashid till June 2, 2026 after an urgent request was made by him following the death of his father. Rashid’s father died on May 18 morning at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. During the condolence period, Rashid had expressed a desire to resign as an MP. Rashid even conveyed his intentions to Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Sudhakar Singh, who, along with MP Umesh Patel and others, had visited him during the mourning period. However, in response Singh told Rashid to continue representing the people who elected him.