How BJP made inroads in AAP strongholds
Apart from minoritydominated areas, the AAP received a major jolt in the municipal elections as it failed to hold on to its core areas of support, including those in unuthorised colonies and slum clusters, dominated by Purvanchalis.
As the party received 54.3% vote share in 2015 assembly elections, the party had garnered support from a cross-section of the city — with the low-income and lower middle class groups living in these areas emerging as its backbone.
However, both the BJP and the Congress have dented into these strongholds of the Arvind Kejriwal-led front that witnessed its vote share dipping to 26.21% in 2017 municipal polls.
The AAP won one and the BJP won six of the seven municipal wards in Burari assembly segment, which is dotted with unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters dominated by purvanchalis — migrants from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. BJP’s Anil Kumar Tyagi won the seat although two-time legislator Sanjeev Jha, an AAP member, is a Purvanchali himself.
The appointment of Bhojpuri cinestar-turned-politician, Manoj Tiwari, as Delhi BJP chief seemed to have worked in favour of the party. The assembly segment falls in northeast Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Tiwari.
The importance of the area can be gauged from the fact that both Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bihar CM and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar had launched their civic polls campaign from here.
Kirari, in northwest Lok Sabha constituency, comprises five municipal wards and has significant Puravnachali population. Again, the BJP fared better than AAP as it registered victory in three wards, while AAP was restricted to only two wards.
In south Delhi’s Sangam Vihar assembly segment — one of the biggest unauthorised colonies in the city — the BJP has got three seats. The constituency has six wards.
The AAP trailed behind the BJP in Sangam Vihar as well as it succeeded in two wards while one ward was taken over by an independent candidate.
In Karawal Nagar, the BJP registered an impressive performance. It is also part of northeast parliamentary seat. This segment has five wards. The voters here voted in large numbers for AAP in 2015 assembly elections. However, the BJP managed to dent its vote bank successfully and won three wards. Remaining two have been retained by the AAP.
Even though the minority community came out strongly in favour of AAP, the Congress seemed to have revived here. The Congress won four of the seven wards in the walled city area. Two seats went to AAP, while the BJP won the Chandni Chowk seat.