AAP ready to contest 2014 Lok Sabha elections: Shazia Ilmi

On getting a ticket to contest from Ghaziabad, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Spokesperson Shazia Ilmi on Saturday said that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are a big challenge and that her party was ready to face it.

"This is a big challenge and we are ready. Ghaziabad is craving for development, and I am very excited and ready to work there," said Ilmi.

"This is the first party who listens to people. People will be united in Ghaziabad now. Also, if I would have got a ticket from Raebareli, it would have made no point and I couldn't have stayed there and therefore would not have had any connection with the people. In such a case, how could have I contested from there?" she said.

"People are not getting the basic facilities in Ghaziabad, and I am going to do my best to address their issues. A leader is not judged by his words, but by work," she added.

Ilmi on Wednesday, put to rest reports of differences existing between the AAP and herself over her decision not to contest from Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, in the 2014 general elections.

The AAP leader also tried to corroborate with facts that how hard it will be for her to contest from Rae Bareli.

Ilmi expressed hope that if the party wants her to contest in Delhi, she will be more than happy to oblige as a true blue soldier of the AAP.

On Tuesday, Ilmi, using Twitter, sought to quell speculation that she would be pitted against Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha polls, saying she "never agreed" to contest from Rae Bareli.