Delhi Assembly polls: AAP rejects Shahi Imam Syed Bukhari's offer of support

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday rejected offer of support to it by Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Bukhari, a day before the capital city goes to Assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference here, AAP leader Ashutosh said,“AAP wants to make it clear that our party has nothing got to do with Syed Ahmed Bukhari ji.”

“AAP was formed to eradicate communal politics, only Imam Bukhari would know why he made such a statement,” He further said.

Another AAP leader Ashish Khetan said, “We not only reject offer made by Bukhariji,but also make it clear, AAP is here to fight against this sort of communal politics.”

AAP leader Sanjay Singh also said that the party does not require support of Bukhari as it was against any type of "caste and communal politics".

"AAP doesn't support the ideology of Imam Bukhari. We don't need his support," Singh added.

The move comes as a surprise as the Imam in 2014 had asked Muslims to back Congress.

AAP reacted shortly after the Imam of India's biggest mosque said if people don't vote for AAP in these elections, they would commit a big mistake.

In his appeal, Bukhari said, "Appeal to all Muslims to support AAP candidates and help in forming a secular government in Delhi."

He further said survival of Muslims was dependent on the survival of secularism in India while urging the people to help AAP to form an honest and secular government in Delhi, as per PTI.

With Bukhari's offer to support AAP, it seems that, in the poll-bound national capital satraps are anxious to halt PM Modi's victory march.

Yesterday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had also joined the growing procession of anti-BJP satraps to back AAP's energetic bid to beat the BJP in the Delhi polls.

Though of little electoral value, the endorsements reflect the anxiety of anti-BJP forces to stop the saffron out fit's winning spree under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and have scaled up the political significance of the Delhi Assembly elections.

Meanwhile, an Assocham survey projected that the national capital is likely to witness a voter turnout of around 72 percent in Saturday`s Assembly poll.

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) survey, an increase of about five percent over the December 2013 polls is likely due to the fact that the voters want a stable government and not a hung house again.

The last Assembly Elections had thrown up a fractured mandate with the BJP winning 31 seats and the AAP bagging 28 seats in the 70-member house.

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