Expelled AAP councillor joins AIMIM

The All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Tuesday announced the candidature of expelled AAP councillor Tahir Hussain from the Mustafabad constituency for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Hussain, an accused in 2020 North East Delhi riots case, joined the party on Tuesday.

Announcing the decision on X, party president Asaduddin Owaisi said: “MCD councillor Tahir Hussain joined the AIMIM and will be our candidate from the Mustafabad Assembly constituency in the upcoming Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections. His family members and supporters also joined the party.”

The move drew criticism from the BJP. It has warned of serious consequences if efforts are made to incite communal tension in the national capital.

BJP leader Kapil Mishra said: “Tahir is not just an accused in the riots. His house was found stocked with petrol bombs, stones and weapons intended to harm Hindus in Delhi. Young IB officer Ankit Sharma was brutally stabbed 400 times in his house and his body was dumped in a drain.”

“This is a clear attempt to disrupt the peace in Delhi. Last time, Shaheen Bagh protests were staged before the elections. If riots are incited in the name of Tahir Hussain this time, there will be consequences,” he said.

Hussain was elected from the Nehru Nagar ward. However, he was expelled from AAP after the communal violence broke out in the North East district of Delhi in 2020.

Meanwhile, AAP also named Adil Ahmad Khan, state secretary of the party, from the Mustafabad Assembly seat, dropping MLA Haji Yunus.