To protest abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of the state into two UTs, former trade union leader Qayoom Wani, who unsuccessfully contested LoK Sabha elections on the PDP ticket from the Baramulla seat, quit politics on Thursday.

Wani (60) had joined politics in February last year and he was among top mainstream politicians who were detained in a run up to Union Government’s decision of abrogation of special status to J&K in August last year.

“I am quitting politics to protest the undemocratic and unconstitutional abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A and also downgrading of the state into two UTs. I have quit politics forever,” Wani told The Tribune.