Not retiring from politics, clarifies Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday took to Twitter to clarify that she is not retiring from politics, but will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls due to her health constraints.

Her clarification came after people assumed that Swaraj is retiring from politics as she had announced earlier in the day to not contest the next Lok Sabha elections.

Opposition leader Shashi Tharoor also posted the best wishes for Swaraj on her Twitter handle.

It was, however, her husband-Swaraj Kaushal's 'Thank You' note that stole many hearts. From a restricted Twitter handle, he equated Swaraj's decision with the retirement of athlete Milkha Singh and said that even the athlete stopped running at one time, and thanked his wife for her decision.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Swaraj said that while it is the party that decides on such things, she, on her part, has made up her mind not to contest the 2019 General Elections. Citing reasons for not contesting, Swaraj said, "Ye mere swasthya ki maryada hai. (This is the limitation of my health)."

Swaraj, who has been a Member of Parliament for several years, has, in the past, also held the position of Delhi's Chief Minister from October 13 to December 3, 1998. In fact, she was Delhi's first woman Chief Minister.

She has also been Informational and Broadcasting Minister at the Centre, spokesperson of the BJP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. She is currently a Member of Lok Sabha from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.