AAP secures key victories in Seelampur, Okhla, and Matia Mahal, while BJP makes inroads in Mustafabad.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has maintained its stronghold in several Muslim-dominated constituencies in the Delhi Assembly elections, securing victories in Seelampur, Babarpur, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, Chandni Chowk, and Okhla. However, the party faced a setback in Mustafabad, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious.
Of the 11 seats in Delhi where Muslims form a majority or a significant voting bloc, AAP won the majority, while the BJP managed to clinch a few. The elections also saw a notable performance by Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which fielded candidates in Okhla and Mustafabad. Although the AIMIM candidates secured substantial vote shares, they failed to win any seats.
In Okhla, AAP’s prominent Muslim face, Amanatullah Khan, faced a tough challenge from AIMIM’s Shafa-ur-Rehman, an active figure in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests who is currently jailed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Khan’s vote share dropped significantly from 66% in 2015 to 42% this year, with Rehman securing around 19% of the votes. Despite the close contest, Khan managed to retain the seat, while the BJP came in third.
“The people of Okhla have once again shown their faith in AAP’s vision,” said Khan after his victory. “We will continue to work for the development of our constituency.”
In a surprising turn, the BJP won the Muslim-majority Mustafabad seat, with candidate Mohan Singh Bisht defeating AAP’s Adil Ahmed Khan by a margin of 17,578 votes. AIMIM’s Tahir Hussain, a controversial figure linked to the Delhi riots, came in third.
“This victory is a testament to the BJP’s commitment to inclusive development,” said Bisht. “We will ensure that every community benefits from our policies.”
AAP’s candidates secured comfortable victories in several other Muslim-dominated constituencies. In Matia Mahal, Ali Mohammad Iqbal won by a margin of 42,724 votes, while Chaudhary Zubair Ahmed triumphed in Seelampur with 42,477 votes. Imran Hussain retained Ballimaran, defeating BJP’s Kamal Bagdi by 29,823 votes.
In Chandni Chowk, AAP’s Pinardeep Singh won by 16,572 votes, and in Seemapuri, Veer Singh Dhingan secured a victory over BJP’s Kumari Rinku.
The Congress party, once a dominant force in Delhi, continued to struggle, failing to secure any of the Muslim-dominated seats. Meanwhile, the BJP managed to win in Gandhinagar and Karawal Nagar, with Arvinder Singh Lovely and Kapil Mishra emerging victorious, respectively.
In Badarpur, AAP’s Gopal Rai defeated BJP’s Anil Kumar Vishishth by 18,994 votes, while in Karawal Nagar, BJP’s Kapil Mishra won by a significant margin of 23,355 votes.
Political analysts suggest that AAP’s focus on education, healthcare, and infrastructure development has resonated with voters across communities. “AAP’s performance in Muslim-dominated seats reflects its ability to address local issues effectively,” said political commentator Ravi Sharma.
However, the BJP’s victory in Mustafabad indicates a shift in voter sentiment in some areas. “The BJP’s campaign highlighting national security and development seems to have struck a chord with certain sections of the electorate,” Sharma added.
As the dust settles on the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP’s dominance in Muslim-majority constituencies underscores its continued appeal among minority voters, while the BJP’s gains signal a growing challenge for the ruling party in future polls.
“This election has shown that development transcends religious and community lines,” said AAP leader Gopal Rai. “We will continue to work for all Delhiites, regardless of their background.”
With the results now in, all eyes are on how the AAP-led government will address the aspirations of its diverse electorate in the coming years.