When the Delhi election dates were announced, reports suggested that Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM would contest 12 constituencies in the Capital. However, the party has now decided to focus on just two Muslim-majority constituencies: Mustafabad and Okhla.
In these two areas, AIMIM has fielded former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and Jamia alumni president Shifaur Rehman, both of whom are accused in Delhi riot cases and are in jail. They had got custody parole to file nomination papers after which they are back in jail.
AIMIM’s Delhi president Dr. Shoaib Jamai explained the party’s decision: “We are contesting only two seats to send a strong political message to other parties and to counter the negative labels attached to us. In Okhla and Mustafabad, our organisation and candidates are well-prepared to challenge the sitting MLAs. Unlike others, we didn’t make a hasty decision to contest numerous seats without proper groundwork.”
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Jamai said: “This shows that AIMIM is a responsible party. We are not here to harm any secular government but to fight for our community and amplify the voice of Muslims. In the remaining 68 seats, I urge secular parties to strongly oppose the BJP and prevent their victory. Support us in Mustafabad and Okhla, where we are fighting alone against the BJP. Why are these parties reluctant to support CAA-NRC activists? Are they genuinely opposing the CAA, or was it merely a façade to win Muslim votes?”
He concluded: “If these parties truly care about the existence of Muslim political leadership, they should support our candidates in these two constituencies. Even if they don’t, we are determined to fight and defeat all our opponents in both Mustafabad and Okhla.”
In Okhla, AIMIM is gearing up to challenge incumbent AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, who is seeking a third consecutive victory. Other key contenders include Congress candidate Ariba Khan, BJP’s Manish Chaudhry, and representatives from smaller parties, as well as a few Independent candidates.
AIMIM’s candidate, Shifaur Rehman, is relying on a wave of sympathy to bolster his campaign and support from women and youth. In Rehman’s absence, his wife, Noorine Fatima, has taken charge, leading the effort to win over Okhla residents. Her maturity and leadership have been widely praised.
At her first public appearance in Gaffar Manzil a few days ago, Noorine Fatima took center stage alongside AIMIM leader Imtiyaz Jaleel and other party representatives. According to attendees, she made an emotional appeal, urging the audience to support her husband. The rally saw a massive turnout, with many residents expressing their support for Rehman’s candidacy.
BJP candidate Manish Chaudhry also weighed in, telling the media that his main competition is with Shifaur Rehman and Ariba Khan, not Amanatullah Khan. He claimed that residents are dissatisfied with Khan’s decade-long tenure, citing his failure to uplift the locality.
One attendee (a resident) at the rally said: “We supported Amanatullah Khan last time, but now our vote is for Shifaur Rehman. He is innocent and has been wrongfully framed. We are urging the youth and others in Okhla to back him because he has sacrificed everything for the community. Amanatullah has ruined the locality as he has failed to develop the locality for the last 10 years.”
In an emotional appeal, Noorine Fatima told the gathering: “If you don’t vote for my husband, no one in the future will dare to risk their life for the community.”
