ALLAH Ditta has been selected as the Conservative Party’s candidate to fight Worcestershire County Council’s tightest ward next year – despite him insisting it’s a “safe Labour seat”.

Coun Ditta, who is still under police investigation following an infamous dispute with a grieving family at their dead father’s grave, will defend a majority of just 103 in Rainbow Hill.

Labour has already signalled its intentions by revealing Councillor Paul Denham, the group’s deputy leader in Worcester, will go head to head against him in the county’s most eagerly anticipated election battle.

Coun Ditta sparked controversy back in August when he threatened to dig up a dead man’s body during a dispute with a family over £400. He said: “It’s a safe Labour seat, if you look at the figures you’ll see that – but I’ll be contesting it right to the end.

“Labour has won more councillors there than us the last few years.”

Coun Denham, who is a current city councillor for the area, said: “I’m delighted to be our candidate – I have tried twice to stand for Labour in Rainbow Hill, but I couldn’t because we had an all-women shortlist.

“That being said, I’m not at all hostile to all-women shortlists, but I’m very pleased I’ve now got this chance.

“Over the last few years more and more matters have been put to me by residents which are county council issues.”

Coun Ditta was secretly recorded threatening to dig up Monuhor Ali’s body after a row with his family over an unpaid £400 bill.

Mr Ali died in June, aged 74, and is buried at the city’s private Muslim cemetery, where the politician does voluntary work tending to graves.

The family have refused to pay the bill because they say Coun Ditta has done no work on the grave, something which he has consistently denied.

As of today, the bill remains unpaid and West Mercia Police is still investigating the row.

Worcester Conservative Party accepted his apology for the outburst but refused to kick him out of the group on the grounds his grave work is voluntary, and not connected to his role as a councillor.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “We are still investigating the incident at this stage.”