Delhi Congress leader Mateen Ahmed joins AAP ahead of 2025 Assembly polls

In a major setback for the Congress, veteran leader Mateen Ahmed joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections likely to take place in February 2025.

Ahmed, a five-time MLA from Delhi’s Seelampur, served in the Delhi Assembly from 1993 to 2013 and is known for his strong influence in the region. His induction into AAP was formally announced by party convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Welcoming Ahmad to AAP, Kejriwal said, “Today, Mateen Sahab has joined the right party. Better late than never. Chowdhary Sahab (Ahmed) is a prominent figure in Delhi politics. The way Aam Aadmi Party is known for its work, Chowdhary Sahab has also earned respect in his area for similar efforts.”

Ahmed’s son, Chaudhry Zubair Ahmad, and his wife, Shagufta Choudhry, a Congress Councillor, joined the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in October last month.

Speculations are rife that Chaudhary Zubair Ahmed may be fielded as the Aam Aadmi Party’s candidate from Seelampur in the upcoming Assembly elections.

AAP won the Seelampur Assembly seat in both the 2015 and 2020 elections, with Mohammad Ishraq winning in 2015 and Abdul Rehman in 2020.

From 1993 to 2013, Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed contested elections from Seelampur under various banners, including Janata Dal, as an independent candidate, and later with the Congress. He won all these elections.