New Delhi 

The likely victory of Mohan Singh Bisht, a senior BJP leader and sitting legislator, from the Muslim-dominated Mustafabad Assembly seat which was worst affected during the 2020 communal riots breaks the stereotypes of Indian voters.

Bisht was fielded from the constituency against his wishes as the party moved him out of his comfort zone - the Karawal Nagar constituency and fielded Kapil Mishra, an AAP-turned-BJP leader from there.

Bisht has already taken a lead of over 40,000 votes at the end of the ninth round of counting of the Delhi Assembly elections and it should be enough for him to be a winner.

Mustafabad has a 39.5% Muslim population. The Assadudin Owaisi-led AIMIM has fielded former AAP councilor and 2020 Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain from the seat, while AAP had fielded Adeel Ahmed Khan. Mustafabad in north-east Delhi was one of the worst-affected areas during the 2020 riots, in which at least 53 people lost their lives. 

Bisht is a veteran in Delhi politics and was first elected MLA from Karawal Nagar in 1998, a seat he held till 2015.

However, he lost the seat to Mishra in 2015, who was contesting on an AAP ticket at the time. Five years later, Bisht wrested Karawal Nagar by defeating AAP's Durgesh Pathak. 

He was unhappy with the party’s decision to field Mishra from Karawal Nagar. Bisht termed the decision a “big mistake” even as BJP’s internal surveys showed that Karawal Nagar voters preferred Mishra’s firebrand Hindutva oratory and a Poorvanchali face.

The BJP’s senior party leaders intervened and spoke to Bisht. A day later, he was declared the party’s candidate from Mustafabad, an area which also has a large population of Uttarakhandis or Paharis.”

Senior BJP leaders describe Bisht as “accessible” and praise his efforts to raise local issues while implementing development projects and addressing people’s issues. 

In 2020, he came into controversy when a woman accused him of leading a mob during the riots and setting her shop on fire. However, no charges were filed against him.