Fissures seems to have appeared in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) As one of its senior most members Illyas Azmi questioned parachute landing of Bollywood Actor Javed Jaffry in lucknow and said this candidature was a walk over for BJP from this constituency.
"Announcing Javed Jafry as candidate for lucknow seat was a decision which makes the seat favorable for BJP National President Rajnath Singh," said Illyas Azmi while talking to The Pioneer over phone. It may be mentioned that a couple of week back Veteran leader returned ticket and asked AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal to field him from lucknow seat.
Jafry originally belongs to Madhya Pradesh and do not have any lucknow connection neither political nor socially. "As Jafry does not have any base in lucknow, his candidature will help Rajnath in gaining the vote share due to division of votes. The party should have considered all these points before making him candidate," he said.
Cashing the opportunity, Rashtriya Ulama Council (RUC) had been trying to convince the leader for contesting elections on council’s ticket from lucknow seat. Still Azmi had not left AAP so far. "The council members had considered Azmi’s name for lucknow seat if he aggress we are ready to offer him ticket," said National President RUC, Maulana Amir Rashadi.
When asked Azmi about RUC’s offer, he said he will not be leaving AAP so far if party had not considered his demand for lucknow seat. He will not be contesting lok Sabha General Elections this time. According party sources, firstly Azmi asked for lakhimpur seat which was given him. But when he asked for lucknow seat party was ready to take chances.
Grandson of Former Prime Minister lal Bahadur Shastri, Adarsh Shastri was the front runner but even his name was neglected while taking the decision. "I do not want to make any comments on Jafry’s candidature it was party’s decision and respect it. There is no resentment of not getting ticket as I didn’t joined party with political ambitions," said Shastri.
Although there was resentment in the AAP workers who were hoping that Shastri would be declared as candidate for lucknow Seat. In a meeting of district committee the volunteers were addressed by Shastri himself and it was directed not to take it as a setback instead they should work for candidate’s campaigning.