Amidst the election excitement in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suffered a major setback. Senior party MLA Shoaib Iqbal has announced not to contest the assembly elections this time. He said that before taking this decision, he met AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and informed him about his decision.
Decision taken after talking to Kejriwal
Shoaib Iqbal told news agency PTI that he discussed the current situation of Delhi and election strategy with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
- Shoaib Iqbal said:
- “The party had declared me as its candidate from Matia Mahal. But I told Arvind Kejriwal ji that due to some reasons I will not be able to contest the elections this time.”
- During this conversation, Kejriwal assured him that Aale Mohammad Iqbal could be made the candidate in his place.
Ale Mohammad Iqbal may get a chance
Shoaib Iqbal’s statement has strengthened the possibility that AAP will field his son Aale Mohammad Iqbal from Matia Mahal seat.
- Aale Mohammad Iqbal:
- Presently he is a councilor of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD).
- He has also been the former Deputy Mayor of Delhi.
- Shoaib Iqbal said that his son is ready to contest elections for the party.
- However, this news has not been officially confirmed by AAP yet.
Change on Mehrauli seat also
AAP has recently changed its candidate on Mehrauli seat also.
- Sitting MLA Naresh Yadav refused to contest the elections.
- The party has given ticket to Mahendra Chaudhary in his place.
- According to sources, AAP feared loss due to allegations of sacrilege of Quran against Naresh Yadav, due to which he distanced himself from the elections.
AAP leader joins BJP
Ahead of the elections in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party suffered another blow when Dr. Sukhvir Singh Dalal, former AAP MLA from Mundka, and Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee member Sardar Balbir Singh joined the BJP.
- BJP President Virendra Sachdeva welcomed these leaders into the party in the presence of Union Minister Harsh Malhotra and Joining Committee convenor Ashish Sood.
- Sardar Balbir Singh was appointed Delhi BJP minister by BJP.
Virendra Sachdeva’s attack
BJP president Virendra Sachdeva attacked AAP, saying:
- “The Delhi government has only told lies in the last 10 years. “Only promises were made in the name of Sports University, but no concrete work was done.”
conclusion
AAP is facing challenges on many fronts before the Delhi elections.
- Shoaib Iqbal not contesting the elections and the change in Mehrauli seat is strategically important for the party.
- On the other hand, AAP leaders joining BJP are making this election battle even more interesting.
In the upcoming assembly elections, it will be important to see what turn this contest between AAP and BJP takes.
