As Delhi gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, a significant segment of the population, particularly Muslims, is poised to play a crucial role in determining the outcome. While Muslims constitute a little over 12% of Delhi’s population, six of the 70 assembly constituencies have a Muslim population of 40% or more.
These constituencies include Ballimaran and Matia Mahal in Old Delhi, along with Okhla, Mustafabad, Seelampur, and Babarpur. Several other constituencies such as Rithala, Shahdara, Seemapuri, Babarpur, and Mustafabad also have notable Muslim populations, making them important battlegrounds for political parties.
Historically, the Muslim community in Delhi has been a traditional support base for Congress. However, over the past decade, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has managed to woo many Muslim voters. This election, though, seems to be seeing a shift, with many in the community looking to Congress for a potential change in governance. In the previous Lok Sabha polls, the Muslim community overwhelmingly supported Congress, signaling their growing dissatisfaction with the current political scenario.
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Residents of Muslim-majority areas in Delhi say that while the issues they face are similar to those across the capital, it is the perceived “prejudice” against them that continues to be their biggest challenge. These areas struggle with poor infrastructure, sanitation, and basic amenities, and local residents often feel neglected.
Faheem Iqbal, an auto driver from Karawal Nagar, shared his frustrations, “Sometimes, I feel just because we are Muslims, officials do not care to enter our lanes and improve the hygiene. This is why everyone says, ‘Musalmaanon ke ilaqe kabhi saaf nahi milte (Muslim areas are never clean).
’ There is not a single house where a child is healthy. Every second person falls ill. A putrid smell hangs in the locality, and we don’t know if it is because of the garbage dump or the stray cattle.”
Iqbal, like many others in his community, expressed his hope for a change in government, saying, “This time, my family has been praying that we get a different government, and Congress may prove to be helpful for us.”
In Okhla, another Muslim-majority area, residents voiced similar concerns. Nabeel Siddique, a resident of Okhla, lamented the area’s neglect, saying, “You should see how people react when asked to come to Okhla! They always have an excuse for not coming here. Why? Because Okhla is considered a Muslim-dominated area; the lanes are congested with zero policing, and there is a lack of sanitation, especially in market areas.”
Huma Usmani, also from Okhla, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the challenges faced by the community despite the presence of a university in the area. “It is sad to see a university area facing traffic and sanitation problems.
We as a society are responsible somehow. We have been writing to the administration to assign a police official to this area, but we haven’t got any response in the past five years,” she said.
The issues plaguing these Muslim-dominated areas—ranging from sanitation problems to lack of policing and infrastructure—have left many residents frustrated and disillusioned with the current government.
As the elections approach, it remains to be seen how the political landscape will shift and whether Congress will be able to capitalize on the growing discontent among Muslim voters in these key constituencies.
With these concerns in mind, the Muslim vote in Delhi is expected to be a critical factor in shaping the next assembly government.
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