New war with Muslim vote bank and Congress

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power in Delhi, is trying to form the government for the third time. This time the party ‘Soft Hindutva’ Have resorted to. By promising to pay ₹ 18,000 per month as honorarium to the priests of temples and granthis of Gurudwaras. ‘Priest-Granthi Samman Yojana’ Has been announced.

The party is promoting this move as targeting BJP. However, BJP calls it AAP’s ‘Electoral Hindu mode’ She is telling. Interestingly, this stand of AAP is in line with the opposition alliance. ‘INDIA’ This seems contrary to secular principles. This time AAP is facing a tough challenge for Muslim votes along with Congress.

One-sided support of Muslim votes to AAP in last elections

In the 2015 and 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP got overwhelming support from Muslim voters. Of the 11 Muslim-dominated seats:

• in 2013: Congress had 6 seats.
• In 2015: AAP won 10 of these seats.
• In 2020: AAP won 9 seats.

In the 2020 elections:

• All 5 Muslim candidates of AAP won.
• Voting percentage was highest in Muslim dominated areas.

This time, this support of AAP seems to be weakening due to the challenges from Congress and AIMIM.

Congress tried to break into Muslim vote bank

In this election, Congress has adopted a big strategy to woo Muslim voters against AAP:

1. Number of Muslim candidates: Congress has so far fielded 6 Muslim candidates out of 47, while AAP has fielded only 5 Muslim candidates out of 70.
2. Impact of AIMIM: AIMIM has created problems for AAP by fielding controversial faces, such as Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain.

This effort of Congress can break into the Muslim vote bank of AAP.

Question of Muslim leadership in AAP

A major challenge for AAP is also that there is no clear and influential leader in the party. minority face Not there.

Muslim faces of AAP:

1. Imran Hussain: MLA and Minister from Ballimaran.
2. Amanatullah Khan: Popular due to controversies related to MLA from Okhla and Waqf Board.
3. Shoaib Iqbal: MLA from Matiyamahal.

Apart from these, two other Muslim MLAs of the party had also won in 2020.

Controversial journey of Amanatullah Khan:

• in september 2024 money laundering cases Was arrested in.
• Recently the court released him.
• Amanatullah Khan’s name often remains in discussion for negative reasons.

AAP has not nominated any Muslim leader till now minority faces of the party Has not been put forward as.

Congress’s hold on the Muslim community

Once the Muslim vote bank of Congress was very strong in Delhi.

• Sheila Dikshit Government: Influential minority leaders like Haroon Yusuf and Parvez Hashmi were strong pillars of the party.
• As of 2013: Congress’s dominance continued in Muslim dominated areas.

However, after AAP’s entry, this vote bank shifted towards AAP. This time Congress is trying to regain the same vote bank.

AIMIM: New challenge

This time, Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM has created problems for both AAP and Congress by entering the Delhi elections.

• Mustafabad seat: AIMIM has made Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain its candidate.
• There is talk that another accused Shahrukh Pathan Can be given a ticket.

AIMIM aims to capitalize on the fundamentalist image among Muslim voters. This may cause loss to AAP and Congress.

AAP’s soft Hindutva card: Strategy or compulsion?

AAP, playing the ploy of ‘soft Hindutva’, has promised to pay an honorarium of ₹ 18,000 per month to the priest and granthi.

• this step attract Hindu voters Trying to do.
• BJP it ‘Electoral Hindu mode’ She is criticizing by saying.

However, this strategy of AAP secular agenda And Opposition alliance INDIA Goes against the principles of.