Our Okhla candidate, Shifaur Rehman, has been granted custody parole for the purpose of nomination, said AIMIM Delhi president Shoaib Jamaee. He is an accused in 2020 Delhi riots.
Shifaur Rehman, an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia and former president of AAJMI, a Jamia alumni group, has been in jail since April 2020 in connection with the northeast Delhi riots case. He is expected to file his nomination tomorrow as a candidate for AIMIM. In his absence, his wife, Noorin Fatima, has taken charge of his campaign. A few days ago, she addressed a large gathering at Ghaffar Manzil in the presence of AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel, Shoaib Jamaee, and others, urging voters to support her incarcerated husband.
The announcement of Shifaur Rehman as AIMIM’s candidate has shifted the political dynamics in Okhla. For the first time, the Hyderabad-based AIMIM has entered the fray in Delhi, targeting Muslim-dominated constituencies like Okhla and Mustafabad. In Mustafabad, AIMIM has fielded Tahir Hussain, another Delhi riots accused and a former AAP councillor.
Okhla is gearing up for a triangular contest. Political observers believe Shifaur Rehman may split votes with Amanatullah Khan, the incumbent MLA from AAP, as both hail from the same locality in Uttar Pradesh, Salta. Amanatullah, who is seeking a third term, has been actively engaging with local residents to consolidate support.
Before AAP’s emergence in Okhla, the constituency was a Congress stronghold, with leaders like Pervez Hashmi and Asif Mohammad Khan representing the area in the past.
Many residents feel Shifaur Rehman could pose a serious challenge to Amanatullah Khan, setting the stage for a tough and closely contested election.
AIMIM’s choice of candidates has sparked considerable debate. In Okhla, reactions have been mixed—some residents appreciate the move, while others accuse the party of attempting to polarise voters. However, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has defended the decision, arguing that the candidates are victims of political vendettas and deserve a fair opportunity to represent their constituencies.
Former Okhla MLA Asif Mohammad Khan, whose daughter has secured a Congress ticket from Okhla, criticized Owaisi for allegedly using Shifaur Rehman for political gain. He remarked, “If Owaisi truly cares about Rehman and others, he should prioritize providing them with legal aid, which is their most pressing need.”
In response, Shoaib Jamaee dismissed these accusations, suggesting that if Asif genuinely cared about Shifaur Rehman, he should convince his daughter to withdraw her candidacy in Rehman’s favor.
The upcoming elections will serve as a litmus test for AIMIM’s appeal among Delhi’s Muslim electorate and the public’s response to its candidate selections.
