Former Congress MLA and ex-deputy Speaker of Delhi Vidhan Sabha Shoaib Iqbal on Thursday joined the Aam Aadmi Party in presence of Chief Minister and AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal.
Apart from Iqbal, the five-time MLA from Matia Mahal, two Congress MCD councillors Aley Mohammed Iqbal and Sultana Abadi — also joined the Aam Aadmi Party; the AAP posted a photo on Twitter.
AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "I want to welcome Shoaib Iqbal Ji and his team to the party with all my heart. I strongly believe that his support will strengthen the work that we have done for the poor in Delhi,"
Shoaib Iqbal lauded Arvind Kejriwal led AAP Government for its pro-people initiatives and schemes for the welfare of all the communities. He said, "AAP has worked towards the welfare and development of the downtrodden as well as the Dalit communities in Delhi. I have full faith in the strength of the party; it will come back in Delhi winning all the 70 assembly constituency seats.
Reacting to it, Delhi Congress Chief Spokesperson Mukesh Sharma said former MLA Shoaib Iqbal was aware of the fact that he would not get the Congress ticket for the Delhi Assembly elections due to opposition by the area Congress workers and local people and that was the reason for his joining the AAP.
This comes ahead of the assembly elections in Delhi slated for February 8. The counting of votes will take place on February 11.