Synopsis
In the recent Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP has achieved significant success by winning three out of four seats where over 10% of voters are Sikh. This victory reflects the party's growing support within the community amid criticisms faced by AAP leaders.Key Takeaways
- BJP won three of four Sikh-majority seats.
- Success linked to aggressive AAP campaign missteps.
- Significant Sikh representation across constituencies.
- Government job relaxations aided BJP appeal.
- Decreased defeat margins show shifting voter sentiments.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (NationPress) The BJP has performed strongly in constituencies with significant Sikh populations during the recent Delhi Assembly elections, securing victory in three out of four areas where more than 10 percent of voters identify as Sikh.
The BJP's success can be attributed, in part, to the harsh criticisms directed at Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri by AAP leaders, who accused him of facilitating the settlement of Rohingyas in the city.
According to the results announced on Saturday, the BJP claimed victories in Rajouri Garden, Vikaspuri, and Moti Nagar, while they could not capture Tilak Nagar from the AAP.
The Sikh community constitutes about 5 percent of Delhi's total population of two crore and is present across various constituencies, with numbers ranging from 5,000 to 55,000.
Additionally, the Central government's recent decision to ease job application criteria for families affected by the 1984 anti-Sikh riots played a significant role in rallying Sikh voters to the BJP. In January, Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena approved a complete relaxation of educational qualifications and age limits (up to 55 years) for 88 applications for government jobs from relatives of the riot victims.
In the latest Assembly elections, BJP candidate Manjinder Singh Sira won the Rajouri Garden seat, defeating AAP's Dhanwati Chandela by a margin of 18,190 votes. In 2020, Chandela had previously defeated BJP's Ramesh Khanna by 22,972 votes. Approximately 30 percent of the electorate in that area are Sikhs.
The AAP maintained control over Tilak Nagar, where Jarnail Singh beat BJP's Shveta Saini by 11,658 votes. Jarnail Singh had won against BJP's Rajiv Babbar by a margin of 28,029 votes in the previous elections, with Sikhs representing about one-third of the voters.
Despite the loss, the BJP can take solace in the fact that their defeat margin has decreased by half, indicating a positive shift among Sikh voters in the area.
In Moti Nagar, Harish Khurana, son of former chief minister Madan Lal Khurana, emerged victorious by defeating Shiv Charan Goel of the AAP by 11,657 votes.
Vikaspuri, known as Delhi's largest constituency, which has 13 percent Sikh voters, was won by Pankaj Kumar Singh of the BJP, who beat Mahinder Yadav of the AAP by 6,439 votes.
A leader from BJP mentioned that the AAP leader's accusations against Puri regarding Rohingya settlements backfired. “They targeted a respected Sikh leader who has dedicated his life to the nation,” he stated.
The BJP's campaign also emphasized the AAP's failure to deliver on its promise of providing Rs 1,000 per month to women in Punjab. This strategy resonated with voters in Sikh-majority areas, as many have relatives in Punjab who could verify the AAP's development claims and shortcomings.
