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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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
