Former AAP leader had quit in 2014 after citing the absence of internal democracy in the Aam Aadmi Party. She had contested the 2013 Delhi Assembly elections and 2014 Lok Sabha elections on a AAP ticket unsuccessfully.
Ilmi has stayed out of politics since she left the party in 24 May, 2014 accusing the party of not having any internal democracy. She has since been a vocal critic of the party’s functioningon Twitter, often finding herself being targeted on the medium by the AAP’s supporters.
In an interview to Firstpost in November, Ilmi had said she wouldn’t contest the assembly poll from any political party but said she’s not quitting politics either. Speculation over her joining the BJP had risen after she praised the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat campaign, but she had defended her actions.
“Even, if I don’t do anything, rumour or controversy often takes place. When I left the AAP, Arvind on a television channel said since I was joining the Congress, I had left AAP, which was not true. I never joined Congress. PM’s Swachh Bharat mission is a great mission and one shouldn’t allow rotten apples to spoil a good mission,” she had said.
While saying that she still wanted to make a difference, Ilmi had said at the time that she didn’t want to contest any election.
She had also quashed speculation earlier this week that she would be joining the party.
However, it remains to be seen how the former AAP leader does in the BJP given not everyone in the state unit of the party is very pleased about the former AAP leader joining them just before the national capital goes to the polls.
“The BJP needs to understand that people are keen to join us because we are in power and have good prospects in the upcoming Assembly elections. Induction of too many AAP leaders shows that the party has compromised its ideology,” a BJP leader said on condition of anonymity to Firstpost.
