NEW DELHI: Amidst tight security and the emotions of a family reunion, the streets of Mustafabad in northeast Delhi witnessed a unique campaign trail on Wednesday. Tahir Hussain, on custody parole for his alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots, walked through his old constituency surrounded by policemen. Hussain’s first public appearance in five years drew crowds that packed the neighbourhood’s narrow lanes amid open gutters, piles of rubbish and a strong stench.
As Hussain made his way through the crowd, a group of police stood in front while another five to six formed a protective ring around him. “These streets have worsened beyond recognition,” Hussain told TOI. The former AAP councillor, now contesting the assembly elections as an AIMIM candidate, spoke of disappointment with his former party’s governance during his absence. “I had big hopes when AAP won, but seeing this neglect left me with no choice but to step up for my people,” he claimed.
While some said Hussain was a strong candidate, others felt his candidacy could split the vote four ways and pave the way for a BJP victory. Beyond the rubbish, sewage, and persistent water shortage, Mohammad Anees, 35, cited the incomplete school construction projects, something that Hussain quickly picked up during his campaign speech. The former councillor criticised AAP saying the party’s claims about prioritising education and healthcare had not been implemented on the ground.
In his conversation with TOI, Hussain said, “Just look at the conditions here. I hoped that thing would improve under AAP, which speaks extensively about health and education. However, the party has consistently ignored the problems of the local Muslim population, as evidenced by the clear disparities in this area.” Asked if his move to AIMIM might affect his electoral prospects, Hussain said, “I’m confident that people here supported AAP because of my grassroots work.”
When questioned about his ability to serve as an MLA while incarcerated, he responded, “Who hasn’t been to jail? Delhi’s CM was in jail, the deputy CM and other ministers too. My family has been actively engaging with people, understanding their concerns. On Feb 8, when you see green kites soaring in Mustafabad’s sky, you’ll be witnessing the depth of faith people have in this imprisoned leader.”
Hussain’s wife, Shama Anjum, and 20-year-old son, Shadab, have been carrying out a door-to-door campaign in Mustafabad, with numerous relatives joining in. “For the past six months, we’ve been working diligently to reach every single doorstep in the area,” said his aunt. When the locals were asked if someone not physically present could address community issues, most pointed to Hussain’s tenure as municipal councillor.
“He accomplished so much for the local community as councillor. Now, Mustafabad is becoming unliveable, with garbage trucks rarely visiting for collection. The improvements he brought about then are significant enough for us to support his candidacy for MLA,” said Anjum, 30.
Some, such as Rizwan, 28, however, noted, “Despite the visible support for Hussain at today’s rally, AAP has a loyal voter base here who have benefited substantially from the party’s various welfare schemes, including the subsidies on water and electricity charges.”
The police escort was visibly alert during the incarcerated politician’s door-to-door campaign, making sure they also stayed spread at different points in the crowd to ensure nothing went wrong. Community seniors and AIMIM members also formed human chains alongside the policemen to ensure things didn’t go out of hand.
Many of the onlookers in the crowd repeatedly questioned Hussain about how he would handle the problems affecting their neighbourhood. In response, he assured the crowd that he would ensure timely rubbish collection and complete pending construction projects, among other promises. He also directly addressed the severe sewage problem and said the people at the very least deserved access to clean drinking water – a matter many residents had raised during his address.
There were also others in the crowd who said they would vote for Hussain for a different reason. Abdul Azeem, 32, a social activist and community leader, for instance, declared, “Begunah ki begunahi sabit karne ke liye vote denge (We will vote for him to prove he is innocent).”
The electoral field, apart from Hussain, includes AAP’s Adil Ahmad Khan, a journalist-turned-politician since the Anna Hazare movement, BJP’s Mohan Singh Bisht, current MLA from neighbouring Karawal Nagar, and Congress’s Ali Mehdi, son of popular former MLA Hasan Mehdi, who held the seat from 2008 to 2016. While many said Hussain had a lot of support, others calculated that his candidacy would split the vote and the political mathematics would favour the saffron party.