Patparganj has been a stronghold for the AAP, which has won the seat in the last three elections.
New Delhi: Delhi’s Patparganj constituency is poised for a fierce electoral battle as the city gears up for the Assembly elections, scheduled between mid-February and March 2025. With campaigning in full swing, all major political parties are focusing on this key constituency. Patparganj has been a stronghold for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has won the seat in the last three elections. Senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has represented the constituency since 2013, securing three consecutive victories.
However, the 2020 election results revealed a decline in Sisodia’s dominance, with his victory margin narrowing to just 3,207 votes. This has emboldened both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, who are determined to wrest the seat from AAP. Despite the challenges, Sisodia remains confident of retaining his seat.
Furthermore, the opposition is expected to aggressively capitalise on the alleged liquor scam, using it as a tool to question Sisodia’s integrity and governance record. The scam, which led to Sisodia’s arrest and subsequent release on bail, is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the upcoming electoral battle in Patparganj. This controversy revolves around accusations of irregularities in the Delhi excise policy during Sisodia’s tenure as Deputy Chief Minister, a case that has drawn significant political and public attention.
Meanwhile, internal AAP sources suggest that the party might consider replacing Sisodia with Avadh Ojha, a renowned history teacher and UPSC educator who recently joined AAP. Given Sisodia’s narrow victory in the last election, there is speculation that Ojha could be fielded as the party’s candidate for Patparganj to strengthen AAP’s chances in the upcoming polls.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader and former Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary has expressed confidence that Sisodia will lose the Patparganj seat in the upcoming Assembly elections. Chaudhary asserted that he will defeat the three-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister. Notably, Chaudhary himself represented Patparganj in 2008 during Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as Chief Minister.
Highlighting the current state of the constituency, Chaudhary criticised the lack of development under AAP’s governance.
“If you visit Patparganj, you’ll see that not a single new road has been constructed. During my tenure as MLA, several development projects were initiated, but they’ve stagnated since AAP came to power,” he said.
He cited specific examples, such as a proposal to replace a liquor shop in Pandav Nagar near Sanjay Lake with a coffee shop or park, which remains unfulfilled. Similarly, plans for a mall, a high-rise building, and a cycle track in the Kalyanvas area were never realised, despite two meetings with then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and assurances from local Residents’ Welfare Associations.
Political analysts closely following Delhi politics have said AAP is considering replacing Sisodia with Ojha in Patparganj to counter growing voter sentiment in favour of the BJP. Sisodia’s limited engagement in the constituency has led to a noticeable wave of anti-incumbency. To address this, AAP is reportedly planning to field Ojha in Patparganj. The analysts noted that even AAP’s internal assessments suggest Patparganj, traditionally seen as a party stronghold, is no longer a safe seat. As a result, the party is exploring the possibility of shifting Sisodia to Jangpura. They added that other key figures, including Chief Minister Atishi Marlena Singh and former minister Satyendar Jain, might also contest from different constituencies to maximise their chances of electoral success.
Furthermore, the alleged liquor scam is expected to significantly influence the electoral contest in Patparganj. The accusations of irregularities in the Delhi excise policy have drawn widespread attention, with the opposition likely to use the issue to challenge Sisodia’s integrity and leadership. Analyst argue that the scandal weakens AAP’s image of clean governance, despite Sisodia’s claims of political vendetta. This could erode voter trust, especially in Patparganj, where anti-incumbency is already a concern. To mitigate the potential fallout, AAP may need to counter the narrative or consider fielding a new candidate to protect its electoral standing.