Development, Batla encounter key issues in Okhla

Constituency has over 50% Muslim electorate

Development issues such as regularisation of colonies, the ghost of Batla House encounter and the presence of a number of Muslim candidates along with a few from Gujjar community make a heady election cocktail in the sensitive Okhla constituency.

Election campaigning is heating up in the constituency that has over 50% Muslim electorate who are considered the dominant electoral force followed by Gujjars (15%) and OBCs (11%).

This time the fight is likely to be fierce with a number of prominent Muslim leaders throwing their hat in the ring.

The BJP and BSP have fielded Gujjar leaders, who are banking on the division of Muslim vote, besides support from Gujjar and OBC communities.

BSP state president Brahm Singh is contesting from Okhla while BJP has fielded Dhir Singh Bidhuri. Brahm Singh had lost a close bye-election in 2009 when Congress MLA Pervez Hashmi had resigned on becoming Rajya Sabha MP.

Five years after the Batla encounter, political leaders in the Okhla constituency are still harping on it and believe it will pay them dividends as in the past.

Brahm Singh was defeated by Asif Mohammad Khan of the RJD, who is contesting from a Congress ticket this time. Asif had raised the Batla encounter issue vociferously in 2009 bypoll but has chosen not to harp on it this time.

He is facing tough opposition from the likes of BSP's Singh, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Irfanullah Khan, Area councillor Shoaib Danish, who has quit Congress to join Janata Dal (United), Lok Jan Shakti party candidate Amanatullah Khan and Samajwadi party candidate Amiruddin.