Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Shazia Ilmi on Friday joined the BJP, but said she was not keen on contesting the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
“After being defeated in the last Assembly elections and subsequently in the general elections, I don’t want to fight this election. However, I will follow the party’s instructions, but I want my party to respect my wish,” said Ms. Ilmi.
Hailing a new “political discourse” in the country, she said that it was time to go beyond the politics of identity.“The new blueprint of the BJP stands for change and development. I was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that’s why I am joining BJP,” she said.
Meanwhile, on the issue of alleged conversions carried out recently by some groups, Ms. Ilmi said she did not support “forced” conversions and the BJP had nothing to do with the matter. After Kiran Bedi, Ms. Ilmi is the second leading light of the erstwhile India Against Corruption movement to come into the BJP fold.
