Veteran Delhi Leader Exits AAP Amid Candidate Selection Controversy
In a significant political development that has sent shockwaves through Delhi's political circles, veteran leader Shoaib Iqbal resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday, November 9, 2025. The former Matia Mahal legislator announced his departure just hours after AAP revealed its candidate list for the upcoming Municipal Corporation of Delhi bye-elections.
The 60-year-old political stalwart from Old Delhi did not mince words while explaining his decision, stating that the party had "failed to live up to the expectations of the people" of the national capital. His resignation comes at a crucial juncture, with bypolls scheduled for 12 MCD wards on November 30.
Internal Rift Over Chandni Mahal Ticket
The immediate trigger for Iqbal's resignation appears to be a controversy surrounding the selection of AAP's candidate for the Chandni Mahal ward, which falls within his traditional stronghold of Matia Mahal. According to party sources, Iqbal had reportedly declared his brother-in-law, Kashif Qureshi, as the party's candidate without proper consultation with the leadership.
The party leadership subsequently clarified that they had conducted internal surveys and finalized Muddasir Usman Qureshi, co-secretary of the Delhi Youth Wing, as their official candidate for the ward. In an official statement, AAP emphasized its commitment to giving tickets to dedicated workers rather than "parachute candidates from other parties" or relatives of existing leaders.
Family Drama and Political Fallout
The resignation has created an unusual family dynamic in Delhi politics. Aaley Mohammad Iqbal, Shoaib's son and the current AAP MLA from Matia Mahal, expressed deep emotional distress over his father's decision but confirmed he would remain with the party.
The younger Iqbal, who won the Matia Mahal seat by an impressive margin of 42,724 votes in this year's Assembly elections, described the situation as "an attack on both me and my father's respect." He highlighted his father's significant influence in the region, where voters have consistently supported him across different party affiliations since 1993.
Shoaib Iqbal's political journey spans multiple parties, including the JD, JD(S), LJP, JD(U), and Congress, before he joined AAP ahead of the 2020 polls. His six-term tenure as MLA from Matia Mahal demonstrates his deep-rooted connection with the constituency.
Political Reactions and ByPoll Preparations
The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to capitalize on the development, terming November 9 as the "Sunday of Scandals" in a sharp criticism of AAP. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor further accused AAP of multiple irregularities in candidate selection, including allegedly declaring a male candidate for a women's reserved seat and fielding someone previously arrested for bribery.
Meanwhile, AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj defended the party's candidate selection process, stating that the Political Affairs Committee had decided to give tickets only to "dedicated workers" with strong public connections. The party has fielded several notable candidates for the bypolls, including:
- Babita Ahlawat, a lawyer and volunteer from Shalimar Bagh ward
- Eeshna Gupta, student wing president from Greater Kailash ward
- Geeta Rawat, former councillor from Vinod Nagar
- Anil Lakra, former Leader of Opposition in MCD from Mundka
- Seema Vikas Goel, wife of former councillor from Ashok Vihar
Only three of the twelve vacant seats were previously held by AAP councillors, making these bypolls crucial for the party's standing in the municipal corporation. The outcome could significantly impact the political dynamics in Delhi ahead of future elections.
The resignation of a veteran leader like Shoaib Iqbal, coupled with the internal disagreements over ticket distribution, highlights the challenges AAP faces in maintaining party unity while implementing its stated principles of promoting grassroots workers over established political families.
