Delhi’s political landscape may have changed over the years, but Shoaib Iqbal’s grip over his traditional stronghold remains unshaken. Governments have come and gone, parties have risen and fallen, yet Iqbal’s influence in Old Delhi continues undisturbed. His latest show of strength came in the Delhi Municipal Corporation by-elections, where his backed candidate, Mohammad Imran of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), registered a sweeping victory, once again proving that the Chandni Mahal region remains firmly under his control.
The results for 12 MCD by-poll seats were declared. The BJP won seven seats, the Aam Aadmi Party three, Congress one and one seat went to an independent/other candidate. The biggest victory of the by-polls came from Chandni Mahal, where Shoaib Iqbal’s candidate Mohammad Imran triumphed, while the narrowest win was recorded by AAP in Naraina.
The BJP suffered setbacks on two seats, while Congress gained one. One seat that went to ‘others’ was earlier held by the Aam Aadmi Party. Political observers say AAP paid the price for upsetting Shoaib Iqbal, whose displeasure cost the party a crucial opportunity to close the gap with the BJP.
AIFB’s Imran wins the most significant seat
Chandni Mahal, a Muslim-majority ward, was won by AIFB’s Mohammad Imran by a margin of 4,692 votes. In 2022, this seat had delivered AAP’s biggest victory when Shoaib Iqbal’s son, Ale Mohammad Iqbal, contesting on an AAP ticket, defeated the Congress candidate by 17,134 votes. Ale had secured 19,191 votes, while the Congress managed only 2,065.
Three years later, Chandni Mahal has once again produced the largest victory margin. In the by-poll, Imran secured 11,814 votes compared to AAP candidate Mudassar Usman’s 7,122.
AAP pays the price for ignoring Shoaib Iqbal
The by-poll was necessitated because Ale Mohammad Iqbal, earlier a councillor from Chandni Mahal, became an MLA. Shoaib Iqbal wanted the AAP ticket for his preferred candidate, but the party refused, prompting him to resign. He then backed AIFB’s Mohammad Imran, who won comfortably.
Iqbal’s influence over the area, built over three decades, once again proved decisive. Ale Iqbal also broke party lines to support his father, helping Imran secure victory.
Even Amanatullah Khan couldn’t break Iqbal’s hold
Shoaib Iqbal has represented the Matia Mahal Assembly seat six times since 1993 (except in 2015). His son Ale now holds the seat as an AAP MLA and has earlier served as Chandni Mahal councillor. Their influence spans both the Assembly constituency and the ward.
For this by-poll, both AAP and Congress attempted to challenge Iqbal’s dominance. AAP brought back former MLA Asim Ahmed Khan and deployed prominent leaders like Amanatullah Khan and Imran Hussain to campaign. But their combined efforts could not dent Iqbal’s political clout.
Iqbal’s dominance stands firm
By ensuring Imran’s victory, Shoaib Iqbal has once again demonstrated his unmatched sway in Chandni Mahal. Ale Iqbal played a key role by openly supporting Imran despite being an AAP MLA. Even the joint efforts of Congress and AAP failed to break Iqbal’s stronghold.
On this Muslim-majority seat, Iqbal has once again shown that ‘nothing moves without his approval.’ His decades-long dominance remains intact, proving that Chandni Mahal continues to be his impregnable political fortress.
