AAP retains Six Muslim-dominated seats in Delhi, Congress struggles
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has retained six of the seven Muslim-dominated constituencies in Delhi, securing victories in Chandni Chowk, Matia Mahal, Babarpur, Seelampur, Okhla, and Ballimaran. However, the party has lost Mustafabad, where the BJP has made inroads.
Despite criticism over its silence during the 2020 riots and anti-CAA protests, AAP remained the preferred choice for Muslim voters, who saw it as the only viable alternative to counter the BJP. An AAP leader from the minority community acknowledged this support, calling it a “consolation” in an otherwise difficult election for the party.
The Muslim community, which makes up around 13% of Delhi’s 1.55 crore voters, has been a key support base for AAP, alongside Dalits and slum dwellers. The party had won all seven of these seats by large margins in 2020, though leaders had expected a reduced margin this time.
The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM fielded candidates in Okhla and Mustafabad but failed to make a significant impact. In Mustafabad, AIMIM’s candidate, former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain finished third, while in Okhla, Shifa ur Rehman Khan also finshed on the third spot. Both candidates are accused in the 2020 Delhi riots cases.
Despite efforts to regain Muslim support, the Congress performed poorly. A party leader admitted that they failed to convince voters of their ability to challenge the BJP.
In 2020, Congress had fielded five Muslim candidates in these seats, all of whom lost to AAP. This time, the party fielded seven candidates, but barring Seelampur, where it secured 15.61% of the vote, its performance remained weak.
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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.
