The Tribune Analysis: AAP, Cong vie for Muslim votes in Delhi
As the campaign for the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections generates political heat, parties are working hard to consolidate their positions, especially in constituencies having significant presence of Muslim voters.
In their respective list of candidates, both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress appear to have made a concerted effort to include Muslim candidates in the evolving political landscape where the two parties are vying for minority votes.
In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opted for a diametrically opposite approach by not fielding even a single Muslim candidate.
Historically, the Muslim electorate has played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of Delhi’s assembly elections, particularly in the seven constituencies – Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Babarpur, Seelampur, Okhla, Ballimaran and Mustafabad — where Muslims are in a majority.
Notably, Chandni Chowk doesn’t have a Muslim candidate from the seat. The Congress has pitted JP Agarwal’s son Mudit Agarwal against AAP’s Punardeep Singh Sawhney and BJP’s Satish Jain.
The AAP has continued with its strategy of fielding a Muslim candidate in these constituencies, except from Chandni Chowk.
This time, the party has nominated five Muslim candidates in Ballimaran, Matia Mahal, Okhla, Seelampur and the Mustafabad Assembly seats.
The Congress has also demonstrated a greater commitment to Muslim representation in these elections. With the announcement of seven Muslim candidates, the party has increased its representation from five candidates in 2020 and six in 2015. The upswing reflects a strategic shift in the Congress’ approach to appeal to the Muslim vote bank in the national capital.
In contrast, the BJP’s decision to exclude Muslim candidates from its election slate stands out. The party has not fielded a Muslim candidate since 2015, a notable departure from its past practice of fielding one candidate from the community, specifically in the Matia Mahal constituency since 1993.
This absence raises questions about the party’s outreach strategies to the Muslim electorate, and how it plans to engage with the community.
Meanwhile, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has placed two candidates in Okhla and Mustafabad. The party has fielded the two Delhi riots accused for the Assembly elections, expelled AAP councilor Tahir Hussain will face off AAP’s Adil Ahmad Khan and BJP’s veteran leader Mohan Singh Bisht in Mustafabad. While, in Okhla AIMIM has placed hopes on Shifa ur Rehman against grand old party’s Ariba Khan and AAP’s Amanatullah Khan.
Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party – Ajit Pawar faction have fielded four and 12 Muslim candidates. The BSP is fighting elections on all 70 seats and the NCP is contesting on 30 seats.
Residents in these constituencies said the representation of the community equally mattered along with the issues that they faced.
Mohammad Shadab, a voter in Seelampur said, “During the riots, when the area was burning, none of the parties came out in our support. They all wanted to play safe. Similarly, during the Covid, our colonies did not see any politician working for us the way they do during the elections.”
Voters complained of the lack of sanitation in these areas. A resident of Mustafabad, Salim, remarked that voting doesn’t help, “Parties come and make promises, but when one goes into these lanes, I can challenge that their clothes remain clean. None of them are concerned about it.”
In Okhla, residents have raised the issue about the lack of job opportunities and inadequate infrastructure. “There is a need to widen the roads of the area; traffic jams are prevalent here from morning till night,” 22-year-old Ayesha said.