'UNFAIR DECISION': CONGRESS' ARIF KHAN QUITS AS STAR CAMPAIGNER, UPSET OVER NO MUSLIM CANDIDATE FROM MVA

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Mohammed Arif (Naseem) Khan on Friday resigned from the party's campaign committee of Maharashtra over zero representation of Muslims in the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) candidate list for 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"From a total of 48 seats in Maharashtra, MVA has not nominated a single Muslim candidate in Maharashtra," Arif said.

"Now they are asking...Congress ko Muslim vote chahiye...candidate kyu nahi (Congress wants Muslim votes, but why not candidates)?" he added.

In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Arif mentioned two reasons for his decision to quit as the star campaigner. He said that the people and organisations associated from the Muslim community were upset with the grand old party's decision to not nominate any candidate from the minority community in Maharashtra.

"Many Muslim organisations, leaders and also party workers from all over Maharashtra was expecting Congress to at least nominate 1 candidate but unfortunately Congress has also not nominated single Muslim candidate", he wrote.

Calling it an "unfair decision", Arif said, " I will not be able to face and I have no answers to the Muslims and other Muslim organisations in Maharashtra who always raise this issue...Therefore, I have decided not to campaign for the party during the Lok Sabha elections 2024".Clarifying that he is with Congress and in " no contact with AIMIM", said on Saturday, "I thank AIMIM for their offer but I will not accept that, no contact with AIMIM. I'm with Congress and I will stay in Congress."

Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra is being held in five phases--from April 19 to May 20. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.