Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and six-time MLA Shoaib Iqbal has quit the party after a dispute over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) bypoll ticket in Chandni Mahal ward. Iqbal expressed disappointment with AAP’s leadership, saying the party has “lost its direction” and announced he would “never return.”
Dispute Over Candidate Selection
The controversy began when AAP announced its candidates for the 12 MCD ward bypolls scheduled for November 30. In Chandni Mahal, the party chose Muddasir Usman Qureshi as its candidate. This decision upset Shoaib Iqbal, who wanted his brother-in-law, Kashif Qureshi, to receive the ticket instead.
Speaking to PTI, Iqbal said, “I am unhappy with AAP’s policies. The party was born from a people’s movement but has now lost its way. I have resigned and will never return.” He claimed that no one in the area knows the candidate fielded by AAP and reminded that his family had strong support there. His son, Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, is currently an AAP MLA from the Matia Mahal constituency and had previously won by a large margin.
AAP’s Response and Internal Policy
AAP clarified that it decided to give MCD bypoll tickets only to “dedicated party workers” and not to “parachute candidates” from other political parties. The party accused Shoaib Iqbal of unilaterally announcing his brother-in-law’s name as the candidate without consulting the leadership.
According to the party, Muddasir Usman Qureshi was selected through an internal survey. Qureshi is a long-time party worker and currently serves as the Delhi co-secretary of AAP’s youth wing.
Iqbal’s Political Journey
Shoaib Iqbal began his political career in 1993 with the Janata Dal and later represented the Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party. He joined the Congress in 2014 before contesting the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections on an AAP ticket.
Iqbal hinted that more members could leave AAP soon, comparing the party’s situation to the decline of earlier political movements like Janata Dal.
