The jailed councillor from Nehru Vihar ward faces multiple charges related to the February 2020 Delhi riots, including conspiracy, murder, and money laundering
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, currently imprisoned in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots, has been nominated as the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate for the Mustafabad constituency in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The party’s chief, Asaduddin Owaisi, shared the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that Hussain has officially joined AIMIM.
“Tahir Hussain has joined AIMIM and will contest from Mustafabad. We believe in giving opportunities for representation to everyone, including those who have been wrongfully targeted,” Owaisi wrote in his post.
Hussain, a former AAP councillor from Nehru Vihar ward, faces multiple charges related to the February 2020 Delhi riots, including conspiracy, murder, and money laundering. He was expelled from AAP following his arrest. The Delhi Police have named him as a key conspirator in their chargesheet, linking him to several cases, including the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma.
Despite these allegations, Hussain has received bail in five cases but remains in Tihar Jail as trials continue in other cases. According to reports, Hussain’s family and supporters met with Owaisi before his induction into the party.
Hussain’s candidature has sparked controversy, with BJP leader Kapil Mishra criticising AIMIM’s decision. “Making someone accused of riots your candidate is a new low. This is a slap on the faces of riot victims,” Mishra said in a social media post.
AAP, which expelled Hussain in 2020, has fielded Adil Ahmed Khan as its candidate from Mustafabad. The BJP has yet to announce its candidate for the seat.
Hussain’s legal team has confirmed that he will contest the elections from jail under the provisions of law allowing undertrial candidates to participate in the electoral process.
Hussain’s supporters claim he is being unfairly targeted due to his activism against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). “Tahir Sahab has always stood for justice. His candidature is a message that those silenced unjustly can still make their voices heard,” said one supporter.
The Mustafabad constituency, a Muslim-majority area, has been a politically significant battleground. It was previously represented by AAP MLA Haji Yunus. With Hussain now entering the fray under AIMIM, the elections are expected to witness a fierce contest, particularly given the communal undertones of the 2020 riots and their impact on the region.
The decision to field Hussain has further polarised public opinion, with some seeing it as a challenge to the judicial process, while others view it as a bold move to highlight perceived injustices.
As the elections approach, all eyes will be on Mustafabad to see how this contentious candidacy shapes voter sentiment.