The Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) has fielded Shafaur Rehman Khan from the Okhla constituency for the upcoming assembly polls in New Delhi. Rehman is the second candidate of AIMIM for the polls.
Meanwhile, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded MLA Amanatullah Khan from the constituency, while the BJP and Congress are yet to announce their candidates. Shafa ur Rehman Khan, the president of the Jamia Alumni Association (AAJMI), will represent the party in the crucial election, the AIMIM's Delhi president, Shoaib Jamai, said.
AAP councillor and northeast Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain was the first candidate for the Delhi polls announced by the AIMIM around a month ago. He will contest from Mustafabad.
Posting on X, the party said, "An appeal is made to all the voters of the Okhla Assembly constituency to make Shafa ur Rehman Khan victorious with the largest number of votes by pressing the button on the kite symbol on February 5."
The Election Commission on Tuesday announced the election in the national capital on February 5. The last date to file the nominations is January 17, and the scrutiny of nominations will be completed by January 18. Meanwhile, the poll body has told the Delhi parties that it will not hesitate to file cases if they attempt to cross moral limits through derogatory comments against women during the poll campaign.The ECI's stern message comes in the backdrop of BJP candidate from the Kalkaji seat Ramesh Bidhuri's unsavoury comments—"smooth"roads like Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks" and "Atishi has changed her father"—that targeted Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said, "In a democracy, there is no scope for derogatory comments, especially against women." As the Model Code of Conduct kicked in on Tuesday, the CEC said, "At the moment, we are advising our District Election Officers to observe restraint. But we will not hesitate to cross the line and take action if demeaning and derogatory comments against women are used."
Expressing anger over attempts to lower the standards of the poll campaigns or engage children for seeking votes, the CEC said, "If needed, we will start filing cases." The CEC reiterated the poll panel's commitment to maintain a level playing field and check foul play, saying, "On the one hand, we are trying to bring more and more women to the polling booth, on the other, such issues are discouraging voters."