Asaduddin Owaisi is set to visit Okhla shortly to participate in a rally supporting AIMIM candidate Shifaur Rehman.
According to party sources, Owaisi’s roadshow will begin at Zakir Nagar Dhallan at 2 pm sharp and proceed to Khalilullah Mosque. Later in the day, he is scheduled to address a gathering on 40 Feet Road in Shaheen Bagh at 7.30 pm most probably, said a reliable source.
AIMIM is contesting the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections in two constituencies and has fielded two high-profile candidates: former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, who is accused in the Delhi riots, and Jamia alumni group president Shifaur Rehman.
Key kighlights of AIMIM’s election campaign in Okhla
1️⃣ Owaisi’s Visit: Asaduddin Owaisi visited Okhla to support AIMIM candidate Shifaur Rehman through a rally in Shaheen Bagh and roadshow from Zakir Nagar to Khaliullah Mosque.
2️⃣ Election contest: AIMIM is contesting two constituencies in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, fielding Shifaur Rehman and Tahir Hussain from Okhla and Mustafabad respectively.
3️⃣ Leadership amid imprisonment: Shifaur Rehman’s wife, Noorine Fatima, is leading his campaign, citing his imprisonment as a community issue.
4️⃣ Vote division concerns: Critics argue AIMIM’s participation may divide Muslim votes, potentially aiding the BJP.
5️⃣ Call for unity: AIMIM’s Delhi State president Shoaib Jamaee frames the election as a justice movement for the community and jailed activists.
In Okhla, Shifaur Rehman’s wife, Noorine Fatima, is leading the campaign in his absence, urging residents to support her husband, who is in jail for what she describes as his fight for the community. The other candidates in Okhla include incumbent MLA Amanatullah Khan from AAP, sitting Councillor Ariba Khan from Shaheen Bagh representing Congress, and BJP’s Manish Chaudhry.
Concerns about vote division potentially benefiting the BJP have prompted Amanatullah Khan, Asif Md Khan, and Ariba Khan to directly criticise Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM. In a media interaction after Ariba secured a Congress ticket despite stiff opposition from local Okhla Congress leaders, Asif alleged that Shifaur Rehman is being exploited for political gain by Asaduddin Owaisi and needs legal support instead.
AIMIM Delhi president Shoaib Jamaee dismissed these allegations, asserting that such claims stem from fear of losing the election. At a media event in Okhla, when asked about the possibility of vote division aiding the BJP, Shoaib responded: “This question keeps coming up. Muslims have decided this time that Okhla’s vote will not be divided. A unified vote will go to Shifaur Rehman, and you’ll see — Congress will get 5,000 votes, and the Aam Aadmi Party will get zero. The Aam Aadmi Party claims Okhla’s vote has never been divided and won’t be divided this time either. However, the responsibility of electing the Aam Aadmi Party does not rest with Muslims. The AAP knows this.”
He added: “In Okhla, votes will not be divided and will go entirely to Shifaur Rehman. This time, all the emotions are with him. What other candidate has done anything groundbreaking for the Muslim community? If Rehman wins, it will be a great decision for Okhla. It’s a historic moment, and if, at this critical time, we don’t stand with our brothers, activists, and comrades, then when will we?”
Shoaib emphasised: “This fight isn’t just about tickets or any political party. It’s a fight for justice and rights. This is a movement, a campaign, and we’re rebuilding it as a second Shaheen Bagh movement in Okhla. You have to decide: are you here for personal political gain, or are you here for the community? If you are here for the community, for our youth who are in jail and have been wronged, then set aside your personal and political interests. Say, ‘We’ll have plenty of chances for politics later. Today, we stand with Shifaur Rehman.’”
