Okhla Election 2025: Amanatullah Khan vs. Manish Chaudhary vs. Ariba Khan – Who Will Win?

The Okhla Assembly constituency in Delhi is set for a high-stakes electoral battle in 2025, with AAP's sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan facing BJP's Manish Chaudhary and Congress' Ariba Khan. The seat, known for its large Muslim electorate, has been an AAP stronghold since 2015 but was previously dominated by the Congress.

Amanatullah Khan (AAP): The Incumbent Seeking a Hat-Trick

Amanatullah Khan, a key AAP leader, is contesting for his third consecutive term. He has held the Okhla seat since 2015, securing landslide victories. In the 2020 election, he won with 1,30,367 votes, more than doubling the tally of his BJP rival Braham Singh, who managed 58,540 votes. Despite his strong grassroots connect, Khan faces anti-incumbency sentiments this time, making the race more competitive.

Manish Chaudhary (BJP): A New Challenger

The BJP has fielded Manish Chaudhary, a former Congress leader, to challenge Khan. Chaudhary has a history in student politics and served in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU). His political connections, coupled with his family's influence-his father was a Jamia Millia Islamia graduate and an Olympic wrestler-could help consolidate votes.

Ariba Khan (Congress): The Legacy Candidate

Ariba Khan, Congress' candidate from Okhla, comes from a family with deep political roots. Her father, Asif Mohammad Khan, is a two-time Okhla MLA and a former councillor, while her uncle, Arif Mohammad Khan, is the current Governor of Bihar and a former Union Minister.

Ever since her candidacy was announced, Ariba's Kalindi Kunj residence has transformed into an election war room, with family, friends, and supporters strategizing day and night. Although this is her first Assembly election, Ariba is not new to politics-she is currently a councillor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Her father, Asif, is known for his "dabang" style of politics, though his career has been marked by controversies, including multiple arrests-the latest in 2022 for allegedly roughing up a police officer in Jamia Nagar. Asif first won Okhla in a 2009 bypoll and again in 2013 before losing to AAP in 2015. Ariba's political education, as he claims, began over two decades ago.

AIMIM's Entry: A Potential Spoiler?

Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting in Okhla for the first time. Its candidate, Shifaur Rahman, currently in jail, could cut into Khan's traditional vote base, particularly in Zakir Nagar and Abul Fazal Enclave. Analysts suggest that a divided Muslim vote might work in BJP's favor.

A Tight Three-Way Contest

In the other three wards of Okhla, the contest is expected to be more direct, primarily between BJP and AAP. Meanwhile, a resurgent Congress, under Ariba Khan, poses a serious challenge. With Congress' strong local presence, AAP's incumbency, BJP's aggressive campaign, and AIMIM's entry, the battle for Okhla is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in Delhi's 2025 elections.

Who will emerge victorious? Can Amanatullah Khan secure a third term, or will BJP's Manish Chaudhary and Congress' Ariba Khan change the equation?