Srinagar, June 22 -- Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Sunday announced that it will seek the opinion of its grassroots cadre on the expressed intention of its chief and Baramulla member of Parliament Engineer Rashid to step down from the Lok Sabha, citing his inability to effectively reach out and serve the people who elected him.

In a statement, AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said that the party's committee on political affairs held detailed deliberations on the matter and resolved to initiate a broad-based consultation process involving party office-bearers and cadres across all 18 assembly segments of the Baramulla parliamentary constituency.

"After carefully examining all dimensions of the issue, the committee has decided that part...