Ahead of parliamentary elections, the Congress party is inviting all the former party leaders to join back. Former party councillor from Okhla area Shoaib Danish, who had left the party and joined JD-U to contest in the Assembly elections, returned to the party on Thursday.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, party candidate and sitting MP from East Delhi constituency Sandeep Dikshit and party’s chief spokesperson of Delhi Mukesh Sharma felicitated Danish at a function in DPCC head quarters.

It is understood that Danish was not having good terms with party MLA from Okhla Asif Mohammad Khan, but the party claims “everything is fine”.

Also, Asif skipped the felicitation function. Asked about the absence of Asif, Lovely said, “We are making the party stronger for the coming elections. We have consulted everyone before taking any decision.”

The party is trying to unify the Muslim vote bank which has been breached substantially by the Aam Adami Party. Attacking the AAP, Dikshit accused the party on working on behest of the BJP.

“It will be no wonder if the AAP gets dissolved in the BJP after three-four years,” he said.

Party leader Mukesh Sharma said, “The Muslims will join hands with the Congress against AAP and BJP. The AAP is contesting the elections with the agenda of the Rashtrya Svayam Sewak Sangh and we will stop them.”

Danish’s return is likely to unify Muslim votes of Okhla area for Congress candidate Dikshit.

“Joining back the party is like returning home. Now I will work to unify the voters for Congress. I will ask my supporters not to vote AAP as it is only pretending to be against Naredra Modi. The Muslim community can only trust the Congress party,” he said.