Weeks before presidential polls, Turkey’s Erdogan cancels poll rallies citing ill health

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan cancelled all his scheduled campaign rallies on Wednesday and Thursday citing health reasons, just weeks before the country’s May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections. “Today, I will rest at home with the advice of my doctors,” Erdogan wrote on his Twitter account on Wednesday. Later, AK Party deputy chair Erkan Kandemir said Erdogan would attend a ceremony at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in the southern Mersin province via videolink on Thursday. “Our Mersin rally is also planned to be held on a future date,” he posted on Twitter. Late on Tuesday, Erdogan cut short a live TV interview during which he said he felt sick with an upset stomach. The elections represent the biggest electoral challenge for modern Turkey’s longest-serving leader, after a cost-of-living crisis eroded Erdogan’s support. Opinion polls show Erdogan could lose after two decades in power. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.