Who is Mohan Singh Bisht, the BJP leader who won Muslim-dominated Mustafabad?

In the run-up to the elections, Mustafabad – which has a 39.5% Muslim population – grabbed the spotlight after the AIMIM fielded former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor and 2020 Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain from the seat. 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’s political arena and was first elected as an MLA in 1998 from Karawal Nagar, a seat he retained till 2015. However, he lost the seat to Mishra in 2015, then fighting on an AAP ticket. Five years later, Bisht wrested Karawal Nagar back, defeating the AAP’s Durgesh Pathak.

After being replaced by Mishra, Bisht termed the BJP’s decision as a “big mistake” even as internal surveys of the BJP suggested that voters of Karawal Nagar preferred Mishra’s firebrand Hindutva-cum-Purvanchali face.

With Bisht sulking, the BJP national leadership intervened and a day later, announced him as the candidate from Mustafabad, keeping in mind the significant Pahadi population.

“I was the MLA of Karawal Nagar from 1998 to 2008 when the Mustafabad constituency was formed. People here have come out on the streets in support of me (after the announcement)… There is also a lot of support from the party… I am sure that Mustafabad will be the first seat that the BJP will win,” Bisht told The Indian Express earlier.

Senior BJP leaders refer to Bisht as “accessible” and have lauded his efforts to voice local issues while ensuring the implementation of development projects and addressing people’s issues.

He courted controversy in 2020 after a woman accused him of leading a mob during the riots and setting her shop on fire. However, no charges were filed against him.