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Bangla Mirror Desk:
In his first public speech since his removal, former Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman said that more than 37,000 voters gave him votes because of his successful contribution in community development. People have voted him because of his record-breaking achievement in Housing, education, regeneration and creating jobs.
He also said that “I am, as you know, no longer Mayor,” Rahman said. “I may be fallen
but I’m not broken.” He also said that Tower Hamlets is my home. I am not going anywhere from here, neither anyone can stop me.
He said he was “exploring the possibility” of challenging the judgment, and announced Rabina
Khan as the next Tower Hamlets independent mayoral candidate. Rabina Khan will stand for
mayor in the election in June 11 Khan’s campaign was officially announced at the meeting in Water Lily which was the first public
appearance of Lutfur Rahman.
She appeared visibly emotional with tears in her eyes as she stood on stage and delivered her first
speech as an official candidate for Mayor of Tower Hamlets.
She expressed her deep displeasure at Rahman’s exit, and said: “I am here today…because Lutfur
Rahman believed I would be a good counsellor.”
Rabina Khan is currently a Cabinet member for housing in Tower Hamlets.
Hundreds of people turned out to support Rahman, apparently unaware he would introduce Khan as his successor, as he declared his election campaign last year had been fair.
Speakers who attended the meeting mentioned that Lutfur Rahman granted more funding to
community organisations, which has been seen as enticement, however, no one can say that Lutfur Rahman has benefitted himself or his family personally.
The speakers also said that the community has always had their support for Lutfur Rahman and
will always be, in a meeting attended by the thousands of his supporters where the former Mayor
was met with deafeningly loud cheers. Several MPs and mainstream Union leaders offered their support, including George Galloway
and Ken Livingstone, who both sent videos to be shown at the event.
