AAP leader Shazia Ilmi’s refusal to contest from Rae Bareli against Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sparked speculation of a growing dissent within the Kejriwal-led party.
Sources said the party was keen on Ilmi taking on Gandhi, but she was not. Shazia had expressed her desire to contest either from Farrukhabad, a seat represented by Union Minister Salman Khurshid, or any seat from Delhi.
Shazia said that she was not upset with the party for giving ticket to journalist Ashish Khetan from New Delhi. “I am not upset over Khetan getting ticket. He is a friend and I will campaign for him. I would have preferred any seat from Delhi as I know the party volunteers here and I have a connect with them,” she said.