As Congress fields new Muslim candidates for 2025, the party struggles to revive its lost influence in key constituencies dominated by Muslim voters.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — Delhi’s Congress party is grappling with a critical challenge as it prepares for the 2025 Assembly elections. In a strategic move aimed at revitalising its dwindling Muslim vote bank, Congress has fielded seven Muslim candidates across the capital’s 70 constituencies, a sharp departure from its historical reliance on well-established Muslim faces. Among these new hopefuls is Haroon Yusuf, a former minister, who will contest from the Ballimaran constituency. However, the remaining six candidates are largely untested, leaving many questions about the party’s ability to reconnect with its once loyal Muslim supporters.
Historically, the Congress party enjoyed a stronghold over Muslim-majority constituencies in Delhi, particularly between 1993 and 2013. But this dominance has eroded significantly in the past decade, largely due to the rise of Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). While Congress was able to retain four Muslim-majority seats in 2013, the subsequent years have seen its performance steadily decline. By the time of the 2020 elections, AAP swept all Muslim-majority constituencies, leaving Congress with little to show for its efforts.
The Congress Party’s decision to place its trust in younger, relatively unknown candidates instead of seasoned Muslim leaders has left many wondering whether this shift will help them regain the Muslim vote that has increasingly shifted towards AAP.
One of the notable absentees from this election cycle is Parvez Hashmi, a former Congress MLA from Okhla. Hashmi, who was a key player in the party’s Muslim support base, has distanced himself from Congress in recent years. “Congress used to be a natural home for Muslims in Delhi,” said a former Congress worker from Okhla. “But the party has failed to keep up with the changing political landscape. We are left wondering whether these new faces will really represent us.”
In Okhla, a constituency that has traditionally been a battleground between Congress and AAP, Congress has fielded Areeba Khan, the daughter of former MLA Asif Mohammad Khan. This move has stirred discontent among long-time party loyalists, including Hashmi, who believes the selection of Khan’s daughter will not resonate with the people. “Areeba Khan is not the choice of the people here. Congress should have re-nominated someone who has a history of working for the community,” Hashmi commented.
Meanwhile, in Mustafabad, another crucial Muslim-majority constituency, Congress faces a fierce challenge from both AAP and Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), which has backed Tahir Hussain, alleged to have involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots. Congress has fielded Ali Mehndi, son of former MLA Ahmed Hasan. However, with AAP’s Adil Ahmed Khan running and the popularity of Hussain among certain sections, the battle for Mustafabad promises to be a difficult one. “I have worked for the people of Mustafabad for decades,” said Ahmed Hasan, reflecting on his decades of work in the constituency. “Now, I am confident that my son will carry on the legacy.”
Congress’s Muslim leadership in constituencies like Seelampur and Matia Mahal has also faced a blow with prominent figures such as Chaudhary Mateen and Shoaib Iqbal leaving the party for AAP. Mateen, a five-time MLA from Seelampur, has joined AAP, with his son Zubair Ahmed now contesting under the AAP banner. Local residents have expressed dismay over Mateen’s exit, with one resident remarking, “Mateen was the face of Congress in Seelampur. His departure is a huge blow.”
In Matia Mahal, once considered a Congress stronghold, Shoaib Iqbal’s decision to leave the party and join AAP has placed Congress in a difficult position. Iqbal, who served as an MLA for several years, has fielded his son Ale Mohammad Iqbal for this election. Congress, in turn, has nominated Asim Ahmed Khan, but many believe that the popularity of Iqbal’s family in the area makes it a tough contest for the party.
AAP’s rise among the Muslim electorate has been one of the key factors driving Congress’s decline in Muslim-majority constituencies. Kejriwal’s party has effectively consolidated its position through promises of better infrastructure, healthcare, and governance, especially in Muslim-majority areas. Additionally, the appointment of a Muslim minister in the AAP government has earned it significant goodwill among Delhi’s Muslim voters.
Many analysts believe that AAP’s appeal among the Muslim community is difficult to challenge. Political analyst Dr. Ramesh Kumar commented, “The Congress party has a tough road ahead. The absence of seasoned Muslim leaders and the rise of AAP’s appeal among the community means that the electoral dynamics have changed dramatically.”
The 2020 elections highlighted AAP’s strong connection with the Muslim electorate, with the party sweeping all Muslim-majority constituencies. For many Muslim voters, AAP’s governance record, particularly in areas like power supply, water, and healthcare, has been a decisive factor. As one voter put it, “The AAP has delivered on its promises. We are not looking back at Congress.”
As the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections approach, the Congress Party is faced with the daunting task of rebuilding its Muslim vote bank. The fielding of new, relatively untested faces may reflect an attempt to rejuvenate the party’s image, but the absence of experienced Muslim leaders has raised doubts about whether these fresh candidates can gain the same level of trust from the community.
Congress’s efforts to regain the Muslim vote could also be hindered by the growing influence of AAP, which continues to maintain a stronghold in Muslim-majority constituencies. While Congress remains hopeful, many analysts believe the party’s chances of a strong comeback are slim.
“Congress faces an uphill battle,” said a senior political strategist Mohammad Jabbar. “The party’s attempt to revitalise its image through new candidates may not be enough to win back the Muslim vote, especially given AAP’s impressive record.”
The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections are shaping up to be a battle between the old and the new, with Congress attempting to regain its lost ground among Muslim voters, while AAP looks set to strengthen its position. The question remains: Can Congress reconnect with its once loyal Muslim electorate, or will AAP’s governance and promises continue to dominate the Muslim-majority constituencies? As the election campaigns heat up, the outcome will likely depend on whether Congress can offer an alternative that resonates with the changing political landscape of Delhi.
