BJP targets Sisodia's old bastion; AAP relies on welfare recipients

In 2025, AAP leader Manish Sisodia won Patparganj by just 3,200 votes against BJP's Ravinder Negi. It was his third straight win. This time, AAP has replaced Sisodia with teacher Avadh Ojha, while BJP has fielded Negi again. Patparganj, part of East Delhi, has a mix of group housing, lower-middle-class villages, and low-income SC areas. The BJP has been stronger in East Delhi, winning three seats of its 8 seats from there in 2020: Laxmi Nagar, Vishwas Nagar, and Gandhi Nagar.

With Sisodia out of the seat, BJP is hopeful of winning. Negi, now a high-profile candidate after Prime Minister Modi bowed to him at a rally, is a firebrand Hindutva figure and sitting councillor.

Sunil Kumar, a grocery shop owner in East Vinod Nagar, is unhappy with poor roads and high electricity bills, often exceeding ₹3,000 a month. "Sisodia never visited, and neither did his councillor. I'll vote for the BJP," he said. His neighbor, Moti Lal, a vegetable vendor, praised AAP for free bus services for women and improved schools and hospitals. "The BJP blocked their work, but we poor people are happy with AAP," he added.


Dumnika Lal, 71, who works as a housemaid in Mayur Vihar Phase 2 and avails the free bus ride service for women, said, "The AAP has worked for the poor and we will vote for Jhadu (broom, the election symbol of AAP)."

The BJP has identified 70 swing booths in Patparganj where the party won during the 2019 Lok Sabha election but lost during the 2020 assembly election. The party has deployed five to seven workers at each booth to turn the tide in its favour.

Negi is popular among Uttarakhand voters, who form a big chunk of voters, in the constituency. "He's our boy. He missed it last time, but he will win this time," said Jitendra Rawat, a retired government servant in East Vinod Nagar.

Purvanchali voters in the region are divided between AAP and BJP. With villages such as Patparganj, Khichripur and Dallupura falling under the constituency, it also has the presence of Gurjar community votes.

Congress candidate and former MLA Anil Chaudhary is trying to make it a triangular contest. "It is not about winning or losing. He is available for everyone in the area. When everyone is voting for their community, why shouldn't we back him," said Ranjeet Chaudhary, 28, of Patparganj village.

The BJP has appointed MP Surendra Nagar to focus on Gurjar votes, while AAP is relying on support from beneficiaries of its welfare schemes.