Tahir Hussain and Shafaur Rehman are contesting Delhi elections from Mustafabad and Okhla constituencies respectively on AIMIM tickets
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The political landscape of the Delhi Assembly elections continues to evolve as regional parties begin to align in support of each other. The Indian National League (INL), a prominent regional party from Kerala, has announced its support for two candidates from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
In a letter to AIMIM Delhi State President Shoaib Jamai, the INL confirmed its backing for Shafaur Rehman from Okhla and Tahir Hussain from Mustafabad, both of whom have been embroiled in controversies surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
INL Delhi State President Rafi Ahmed Khan expressed strong support for the two AIMIM candidates, stating, “The Indian National League Delhi State Committee has decided to support Majlis candidates Shafaur Rehman and Tahir Hussain in the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5, 2025. Both Shafaur Rehman and Tahir Hussain were wrongfully implicated in the Delhi riots and have faced false charges. It is our public responsibility to help prove their innocence by supporting them with our votes.”
Both Rehman and Hussain gained significant media attention due to their alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots, with accusations related to their participation in the protests against CAA and NRC. The INL has decided not to field its own candidates in Delhi, instead choosing to back AIMIM’s candidates as part of their broader political strategy. According to Khan, the support for Rehman and Hussain is a step towards seeking justice for those wrongly accused. He added, “Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi, by giving them tickets, has already demonstrated confidence in their innocence. Now it is the public’s turn to prove their innocence by helping them win.”
Shafaur Rehman, who is contesting from the Okhla constituency, has been a vocal critic of the controversial CAA and NRC. He has been praised by various political observers, including Jamia Millia Islamia alumni. Muhammad Naeem Khan, a Jamia graduate, spoke exclusively to Clarion India, praising Owaisi’s decision to field Rehman. “Owaisi is a wise leader who made the right decision by giving Shafaur Rehman a chance. He is an educated and sincere individual who has made great sacrifices for the nation,” Khan said.
Similarly, in Mustafabad, where Tahir Hussain is contesting, the local sentiment is strongly in his favour. Amin Guddu, a local vegetable grower, expressed his support, saying, “Tahir Bhai is a good man, and he should win. He has already been doing good work in the area. It is unfortunate that some people are defaming him, which is entirely wrong.”
This endorsement by INL comes at a crucial time for both Hussain and Rehman, who are battling against the backdrop of their controversial legal cases. With the INL’s support, they hope to garner broader support among voters in their respective constituencies, further cementing the political significance of their campaigns.
The INL, which was formed in 1994 after splitting from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), has significant political presence in Kerala and has allied with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the state. Their support for AIMIM candidates marks an important collaboration between regional forces in the lead-up to the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.
As the election season heats up, the alliances between various political entities are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the outcomes, with voters closely watching how these dynamics unfold. The backing of Tahir Hussain and Shafaur Rehman by INL has added a new layer of political complexity to the upcoming elections, ensuring that the spotlight remains on the candidates as they prepare for the polls.
