AAP retains Dalit, Muslim-dominated seats in Delhi polls but faces vote share erosion
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured 22 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections, with 14 of these constituencies having a significant Dalit and Muslim voter base. While these communities remained crucial for AAP’s performance, the party witnessed a substantial decline in its vote share.
An analysis of 19 traditionally pro-AAP constituencies revealed that the party won 14, maintaining a 75% strike rate. However, this marked a drop from its clean sweep in these seats during the 2020 elections.
AAP suffered a 15-20% decline in its vote share in several Scheduled Caste (SC)-reserved constituencies, leading to the loss of four such seats to the BJP. In Muslim-dominated constituencies, despite winning six out of seven, the party lost 6-22% of its vote share to rivals, including the Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
AAP retained a majority of SC-reserved constituencies but experienced a significant vote share erosion. In Northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri, its vote share fell from 65.8% in 2020 to 48.4%. Karol Bagh saw a drop from 62.2% to 50.8%, and Patel Nagar declined from 60.8% to 49%.
The most notable losses were in Bawana, Madipur, Mangolpuri, and Trilokpuri, all of which went to the BJP. In Bawana, AAP’s vote share fell from 48.4% to 38.3%, with most lost votes shifting to the BJP. In Madipur, its vote share plummeted from 56% to 36%, benefiting both the BJP and Congress.
Congress also gained in these constituencies, increasing its vote share by 1-10% across the 12 SC-reserved seats.
AAP lost Mustafabad to the BJP, while retaining six other Muslim-dominated seats. In Mustafabad, AAP’s vote share dropped from 53.2% in 2020 to 33%, while AIMIM secured 16.6% and Congress gained 6%.
In Okhla, AAP’s vote share declined by 24%, while AIMIM and Congress gained 19% and 4%, respectively. Similar trends were observed in Matia Mahal, Ballimaran, and Chandni Chowk, where Congress saw an increase of 6-11% in Muslim votes.
Seelampur was an exception, where AAP's vote share rose by 3%, attributed to candidate Chaudhary Jubair Ahmad, a former Congress leader.
Despite its reduced vote share, AAP’s retention of key seats helped it maintain a presence in the Delhi Assembly, while BJP and Congress made significant inroads in both SC-reserved and Muslim-majority constituencies.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
