MCD polls: redrawn ward boundaries in Okhla fuel allegations of ‘politically motivated’ manipulations

Changes in ward boundaries following the delimitation exercise have led to five wards in the Assembly constituency crossing the permissible upper and lower limits as per MHA guidelines

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The Okhla Assembly constituency, which earlier comprised five municipal wards, has not seen any change in the number after the recent delimitation exercise. However, the redrawing of boundaries of four wards — Sarita Vihar, Zakir Nagar, Abul Fazal Enclave and Madanpur Khadar West — has made Congress leaders and former Aam Aadmi Party councillors suspect that “religious identity” of the residents may have played a role in the process.

The Hindu analysed the enumeration block (EB) data and individual maps of the wards in the constituency from the 2016 and 2022 delimitation reports.

The findings show a population of 26,495 — from areas including Noor Nagar, Johri Farm, Haji Colony and Sarita Vihar Pocket-E — was shifted from the Sarita Vihar ward to the other three wards.

Similarly, a population of 11,756 — that includes areas of Khizrabad village and Madanpur Khadar village — was shifted from the Zakir Nagar and Madanpur Khadar West wards to the Sarita Vihar ward.

It is difficult to pin down the EB data to the individual voter’s identity, however, according to local police authorities and political leaders from the Congress and AAP, the areas shifted out of the Sarita Vihar ward were predominantly Muslim, with a few areas having a mix of religious identities.

The areas shifted into the Sarita Vihar ward comprise a Hindu majority population, and a few with a population of mixed religious identity, they added.