The massive turnout at Shifaur Rehman’s election rally on Saturday underscores the shifting political landscape in Okhla. The rally, held in Ghaffar Manzil in support of AIMIM candidate Shifaur Rehman, was a huge success, according to local residents.
AIMIM leader Imtyaz Jaleel attended the event and addressed the enthusiastic crowd, which gathered in support of the jailed former AAJMI (Jamia Alumni Group) president. Despite the cold weather and unexpected rain, people of all ages, including women and youth, attended the rally. At one point, it seemed the event might be cancelled, but it went ahead as planned. Although the rally started late, the large turnout surprised political observers.
While addressing the crowd in the chilling cold, Shifaur Rehman’s wife, Noorine, urged residents to support her husband by voting for him in the upcoming Delhi Assembly election in February. Imtyaz Jaleel, Delhi AIMIM president Shoaib Jamaee, and other leaders also spoke at the rally.
This is the first time AIMIM is contesting the Assembly elections in Okhla, and the party is counting on Okhla residents to elect its candidate, who has been accused of orchestrating the Delhi riots.
Originally from Satla in Uttar Pradesh, Shifaur Rehman is a graduate of Jamia Millia Islamia. He was the president of AAJMI and is an undertrial in the Delhi violence conspiracy case. He was arrested on April 26, 2020, in connection with the Delhi riots conspiracy and has been in jail ever since.
When announcing his candidacy from Okhla a few days ago, AIMIM stated: “For the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, AIMIM has announced Shifaur Rehman Khan as its candidate for the Okhla Assembly-54 seat. All voters in Okhla are urged to press the kite symbol on February 5 and ensure Shafaur Rahman Khan’s victory by a massive margin.”
While the large turnout at Shifaur Rehman’s election rally highlights the shifting political dynamics in Okhla, political observers caution that it is too early to draw conclusions.
With Shifaur Rehman as its candidate, there is a high likelihood of a sympathy wave, especially given the emotional appeal from his wife on stage.
Political observers suggest that Shifaur Rehman could eat into votes of the incumbent Okhla MLA, Amanatullah Khan, particularly in the two Muslim-majority wards of Okhla: Zakir Nagar and Abul Fazal Enclave.
The votes from these wards will likely be split between Shifaur Rehman and Amanatullah Khan, both of whom are from Satla in Uttar Pradesh. With a large number of voters from Western UP, the vote could further split if Congress fields Asif Md Khan or his daughter Areeba Khan, who are also from Western UP.
Amanatullah, seeking a third consecutive term, has an advantage due to the early start of his campaign. Political observers noted that in the last two elections, he won comfortably, largely because of strong support from the Bihar community in Okhla and AAP’s appeal in three other wards where the Muslim population is lower. In these three wards, the contest will be directly between AAP’s Amanatullah Khan and BJP’s Manish Choudhary. Once a Congress stronghold, the party’s prospects have declined in these wards, and AIMIM has limited chances of gaining traction. While the exact vote share is unclear, rough estimates suggest the Bihar community accounts for around 30% of the votes.
Political insiders said Amanatullah Khan has successfully won over the Bihar voters once again. It is noteworthy that it was the votes of the Bihar community that led to the downfall of AAP Councillor Wajid Khan in the MCD election.
Much depends on how Shifaur Rehman’s team conducts its door-to-door campaign. Many who heard his wife Noorine speak at the rally in interviews were impressed by her persuasive skills.
However, skeptics argue that the biggest challenge will be converting the crowd into actual votes. They pointed out that during a previous MCD election, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi addressed a massive gathering in Okhla, sparking speculation that candidates Kaushar Imam Siddique (Laddan) and Arif Saifi would easily win.
Despite the larger crowd at that time, both AIMIM candidates lost in the MCD election. Whether Asaduddin Owaisi’s charisma will work this time remains uncertain.
Congress Councillor Areeba Khan has accused AIMIM of being the BJP’s “B team”, alleging that the party fields candidates in Muslim areas to split the vote and help the BJP win. Delhi AIMIM president Shoaib Jamaee has vehemently denied these allegations.
Despite the claims and counterclaims, one thing is clear: AIMIM’s entry into Okhla is set to bring a tectonic shift in the local political landscape.
