NEW DELHI: Mohammad Salim is discussing the assembly elections in New Seelampur market in northeast Delhi. Aware of the perils of a triangular contest, Salim, being a minority voter, will probably pick either AAP or Congress to contain BJP on Feb 5.
” (When two people fight each other, a third benefits),” he quipped about the possibility of the Muslim vote being divided between the two non-BJP contenders.
Indeed, as Delhi’s 21.6 lakh Muslims think about choices, analyst Chandrachur Singh, associate professor of political science at Hindu College, is fairly certain who their ballots will support. “It is not rocket science that Muslims will not vote for BJP. If the elections are to happen tomorrow, AAP is likely to be favoured. However, much depends on how Congress organises its campaign, manifesto and candidates,” said Singh.
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Asked whether a soft Hindutva stance of AAP would impact Muslim votes, Singh said, “AAP focus is on women and freebies and since the party is hard on BJP, it will not alienate the Muslim electorate. However, there might be some shifting of allegiance to Congress.”
Making up 12.9% of the population, their sizeable number in most constituencies is coveted by the political parties. The Muslim community can be a game changer in six of Delhi 70 assembly seats, with Seelampur having around 50% Muslim voters, followed by Matia Mahal (48%), Okhla (43%), Mustafabad (36%), Ballimaran (38%) and Babarpur (35%). AAP swept all these six seats in the 2020 assembly polls.
Other constituencies with significant percentage of Muslim voters include Seemapuri (25%), Gandhi Nagar (22%), Chandni Chowk (20%), Sadar Bazar (20%), Vikaspuri (20%), and Karwal Nagar (20%). Hyderabad-centred All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is also contesting and could make a dent in the vote share of the two major parties.
“Congress is a party with good people, while Kejriwal has done good work for Delhi. I will be very happy if either forms the govt,” said Saira Banu, 50, who was shopping with her daughter in New Seelampur market. Banu, however, complained about dirty piped water, uncleared garbage and overflowing sewers near her residence in Jafrabad. So, she said, she is yet to pick who to support this election.
Abdul Fazil, 33, has no such dilemmas. The driver has made up his mind to go with AAP this time. “AAP doesn’t discriminate against people based on religion. I used to pay a monthly electricity bill of Rs 2,000-2,200, which I have been able to save for the past few years after my bills became zero,” said Fazil, who lives in Welcome. But Mohammad Nayyab, who owns a cloth shop, remonstrated, “Electricity is free, yes, but what about the black water coming out of the taps? And why are govt hospitals always short of medicines?”
Amid the general enthusiasm around AAP and Congress, Shaheed Ali of Maujpur, who runs a tour and travel business, feels that BJP will prove triumphant in this election. “Crime has increased in the area with the presence of drug addicts and snatchers. A double-engine govt is needed to control crime,” said Ali in his shop in New Seelampur.
At Gokulpuri’s tyre market, which was ravaged in the riots of 2020, Nafees Sayyed alias Raja, said he was still recovering from the losses arising from his shop being ravaged by violence and the Covid lockdown. “AAP does not seek votes in the name of religion, but on the party’s performance in government. Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were sent to jail even when no evidence was found against them. If a CM can be sentenced to jail, anyone else can be too,” he said. Asked about AAP and the Rohingya issue, Sayyed said, “We are already grappling with our own problems, so why worry about the Rohingyas?”
The market association’s vice president, Mohammad Nazar, said Gokalpuri’s tyre hub was gradually recuperating from the 2020 violence, when 120 of the 224 shops were gutted, and the Covid restrictions that forced the marketplace to remain shuttered for eight-nine months. “The public is with AAP due to its work, but Congress will also perform better this time and will win some seats,” said Nazar.
At Shaheen Bagh in southeast Delhi — the ground zero of the CAA-NRC protest in 2020 — Mohammad Jamil, who owns a furniture business, said, “Road congestion and potholes are a big inconvenience for us. We will vote for the party that we feel will help in resolving these issues.”
Homemaker Meena Begum there said her family had benefited through improved govt schools, free electricity and water and free bus rides. Mohammad Salahuddin, 48, who has been living in Jamia Nagar for over two decades, said, “This seat is the stronghold of AAP’s sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan. While Congress is yet to announce its candidate, voters must be careful not to split the votes.”
In the Walled City in north Delhi, Matia Mahal, Ballimaran and Chandni Chowk are key constituencies for the community. Advocate Mohammad Naved, who lives near Jama Masjid, said, “People are hassled by sanitation issues. Even after AAP won the MCD elections, the garbage problem persists. In Chandni Chowk, parking is a major problem. I am more inclined towards Congress this time.”
Mohammad Nafis of Kucha Pandit Road under the Matia Mahal constituency similarly said sewers, potholed roads and traffic were old Delhi’s banes. “In the past year, we have seen overflowing sewers because of clogged drains and potholed roads,” said Nafis. “The Ajmeri Gate-Chawri Bazar metro station-Kucha Pandit-Lal Kuan-Fatehpuri Masjid stretch is a traffic nightmare.” He added that as the polling drew closer, it would become clearer to Muslim voters which candidate of the two favoured parties was stronger.
