AAP top Muslim leaders, including Amanatullah Khan, fail to challenge Shoaib Iqbal’s dominance as the AIFB-backed candidate Mohammed Imran wins Chandni Mahal by a big margin.

The Delhi MCD By Election 2025 delivered a dramatic political message from the heart of Purani Delhi, where the Chandni Mahal ward once again reaffirmed the long-running hold of Shoaib Iqbal, the veteran leader and now an AAP rebel. Even as BJP secured seven wards and AAP clinched three across the city, the spotlight remained sharply on Chandni Mahal—where Mohammed Imran of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) won decisively, defeating the Aam Aadmi Party despite an aggressive campaign led by its top minority faces.

The political heartbeat of Old Delhi continues to beat in the rhythm of Shoaib Iqbal, a name synonymous with Purani Dilli’s local power dynamics for more than three decades. The Delhi MCD By-Election 2025 may have reshuffled numbers for major parties like the BJP, AAP and Congress, but in Chandni Mahal, the narrative remained familiar: dominance of the Iqbal family, a stronghold untouched since the 1990s.

While the city-wide results gave BJP seven seats and AAP three, Chandni Mahal turned into a political theatre of its own—marked by rebellion, strategy, local alliances and a powerful message from the Muslim-majority electorate.

AAP’s Miscalculation, Shoaib Iqbal’s Comeback

The by-election in Chandni Mahal was triggered after Ale Mohammed Iqbal, Shoaib Iqbal’s son, entered the Delhi Assembly. As the ward prepared for a new councillor, AAP faced a crucial internal conflict. Shoaib Iqbal reportedly wanted the party to nominate his preferred candidate, but when the request was declined, he walked out of AAP and extended his full support to AIFB candidate Mohammed Imran.

The rebellion wasn’t just symbolic—it reshaped the election outcome.

Imran secured 11,814 votes, defeating AAP’s Mudassir Usman by over 4,600 votes, a margin that reinforced the Iqbal family’s grip over the constituency. Despite heavyweight AAP campaigners like Amanatullah Khan, Imran Hussain, and returning former MLA Asim Ahmad Khan, the party’s influence failed to penetrate the tight-knit political structure built by Shoaib Iqbal over decades.

Why Chandni Mahal Matters in Delhi Politics

Chandni Mahal is not merely an MCD ward—it represents the social, political and cultural identity of Muslim-majority Purani Delhi. Voting patterns in this region have long been influenced by hyperlocal leadership rather than central party narratives. And here lies the biggest takeaway of this by-election: Shoaib Iqbal remains the undisputed face of Muslim politics in Old Delhi.

His political continuity—winning repeatedly since 1993 except for one election—creates a unique influence that parties struggle to counter. This by-election only strengthened that narrative.

BJP Gains, AAP Falters

Across the 12 seats, BJP managed to win seven, marking a stable performance, although it suffered two losses compared to previous cycles. AAP registered three victories, Congress captured one, and AIFB—powered solely by Shoaib Iqbal’s influence—clinched Chandni Mahal.

AAP’s biggest setback came from the seats where internal dissent or mismanagement overshadowed grassroots work. But none hit harder than Chandni Mahal.

Purani Dilli’s Message: Local Loyalty Overrides Party Labels

The Chandni Mahal verdict illustrates how Purani Delhi voters prioritize personal trust over party banners, especially in politically sensitive Muslim-majority pockets. The electorate chose continuity, familiarity and local accountability—qualities that local strongmen like Shoaib Iqbal deliver consistently.

His decision to support AIFB’s Mohammed Imran over an AAP candidate signaled a clear message:
Who Shoaib blesses, the voters choose.

Shoaib Iqbal’s political journey is a textbook case of local leadership triumphing over changing political tides. Having represented the Matia Mahal Assembly constituency six times, he transitioned from the JD(U) to Congress and finally to AAP. His son Ale Mohammed Iqbal is the current MLA from the seat.

In the 2022 MCD election, Ale Iqbal won from Chandni Mahal by one of the highest margins in Delhi—over 17,000 votes. This established the ward as an unquestionable Iqbal bastion.

The by-election was called after Ale’s elevation to the Assembly. AAP, aiming to groom a fresh face, overlooked Shoaib’s recommendation—triggering the dramatic fallout and eventually leading to AIFB’s surprise victory.

Local Residents

Many Old Delhi voters expressed that they voted not for a party but for “trusted people who stand with them in crises,” hinting towards the Iqbal family’s grassroots work.

AAP Supporters

Some AAP voters voiced disappointment at the party sidelining Shoaib Iqbal before the elections, calling it a “strategic mistake.”

Political Observers

Experts believe the Chandni Mahal verdict warns AAP of internal fractures and tells BJP that community dynamics can outweigh party presence in localized elections.

Political analysts say that the Chandni Mahal outcome signals the return of hyperlocal politics in Delhi’s civic structure.

• Dr. Rameez Siddiqui, political researcher, noted:
  “This by-election reinforces that Muslim politics in Purani Delhi revolves around strong local families, not ideological campaigns.”
• Prof. Meera Chopra from Delhi University added:
  “AAP underestimated the symbolic authority of Shoaib Iqbal. BJP’s citywide performance is strong, but Chandni Mahal shows that regional identity continues to define MCD elections.”

Fact Box — Key Numbers at a Glance

The Delhi MCD By-Election 2025 has made one thing unmistakably clear: political calculations may shift, parties may change strategies, but Purani Delhi’s Chandni Mahal still stands firmly behind Shoaib Iqbal. AAP’s misread of local sentiment cost it one of its safest wards, while BJP’s citywide victories contrast sharply with the drama in Old Delhi.

With Mohammed Imran’s win ensuring the continuation of Iqbal-family dominance, Chandni Mahal remains a powerful reminder that in Delhi’s oldest neighborhoods, identity and loyalty still outweigh party machinery.

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