Delhi election 2013: Muslims eye haath or haathi, glance at AAP

NEW DELHI: There was heavy polling in the city's Muslim-majority areas on Wednesday, particularly in the late evening. Traditionally a Congress supporter, the community this time had options from AAP, JD(U) and BSP also. However, by the end of the day it seemed to be backing Congress yet again.

In Ballimaran, Congress' four-time sitting MLA, Haroon Yusuf, faced BSP's Imran Hussain. At most of the polling booths in the constituency, supporters of both parties flanked the entrance, urging the voters to choose either "haath" (Congress symbol) or "haathi" (BSP's ). At some booths there was mass voting for Congress as some people repeatedly raked up the 2002 Gujarat riots. "If we don't vote together, we may end up helping BJP," said a Yusuf supporter. In Ballimaran, AAP candidate Farhana Anjum is expected to split Muslim votes.

In Okhla constituency, another Muslim-majority area, the contest appeared to be between Congress' Asif Mohammad Khan and Shoaib Danish of JD(U). "AAP is good. But its representatives are inexperienced," said Shahnawaz Khan, a resident of Zakir Nagar, about the third suitable player for the community.

There was 30% voting in the first three hours in the Jamia Millia Islamia University campus, which was the polling station for Jamia Nagar, and other neighbouring areas. Although 18 candidates were in the fray, locals said the main contest was between Congress and JD(U). Danish, a sitting councillor, went with JD(U) after Congress denied him a ticket. Many college students queued up outside the polling booths to exercise their franchise. "This time, the youth will be a decisive factor," said Mohd Adnan, a law student.

In northeast Delhi, AAP appeared strong in at least a few Muslim bastions, such as Mustafabad and Jaffarabad, where a large number of women in burqas queued up to vote. "Congress has done little for the area's betterment. The drains are overflowing and the roads are in bad shape. There are no good schools here," said Mohammed Abid of Jaffarabad. In Karawal Nagar, where the corporation school has swings and slides, the voting experience turned into a picnic for some families that had brought their children along.

As the day wore on, the Muslim vote appeared to be going the ruling party's way. "Congress has taken care of us and it will continue to do so," said Suleiman Sheikh, a white-bearded resident of Ghonda.