Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi (right) meets BJP chief Amit Shah on Friday
Former Aam Aadmi Party leader Shazia Ilmi is likely to join the BJP today and the announcement is expected at 3 pm.
She met BJP president Amit Shah today at his residence. "I will join party as early as possible. I had a good meeting with Amit Shah, he welcomed me warmly," Ms Ilmi said after the meeting.
Ms Ilmi had said yesterday that she wants to "expose" AAP "so I'll do whatever I can to that effect."
Her former boss, Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Admi Party or AAP, told NDTV that he did not want to comment on why Ms Ilmi quit his party. "I remain fond of Shazia, I will always respect her," he said.
In a swipe at her, Mr Kejriwal had earlier re-tweeted a post from Ms Ilmi in 2013 in which she had declared, 'Hypocrisy, thy name is BJP'. (
With a Retweet, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal's Swipe at Shazia Ilmi)
Both Mr Kejriwal and Ms Ilmi have so far appeared reluctant to elaborate on reports that she will join the BJP very soon and challenge the AAP leader in a direct confrontation in the New Delhi constituency. "She is a citizen of this country and is free to contest from anywhere she wants," said Mr Kejriwal. "I will let you know," said Ms Ilmi.
Delhi votes for its next government on February 7; results will be declared on February 10. In the last state election, Mr Kejriwal won the New Delhi seat to the state legislature. Ms Ilmi lost her seat. She was defeated again in May last year when she ran as the AAP candidate for Parliament from Ghaziabad near Delhi. Former Army Chief General VK Singh, who had joined the BJP, won that battle.
Ms Ilmi then quit AAP, alleging that Mr Kejriwal and his aides have little interest in democratic leadership.