Congress could face a challenge in retaining the Okhla Assembly seat as two Gujjar candidates, including one of its rebels, are likely to change the caste equations in the Muslim-dominated constituency which goes to bypolls on Tuesday.

NCP nominee Rambir Singh Bidhuri, a former Congress leader, and BSP’s Brahma Singh Bidhuri have the potential to make a dent into the Congress stronghold, which has 43 per cent Muslim voters, 15 per cent Gujjar electorate and 11 per cent OBCs. Asif Mohd Khan from RJD is also a strong candidate.

The seat which has been a Congress fortress since 1998 outgoing MLA Parvez Hashmi had won on a Janata Dal ticket in 1993 but switched parties since saw the ruling party hang on by a wafer thin margin of 541 votes in the November elections. For a very long time during the counting, Hashmi had been trailing to RJD candidate Asif Mohammed Khan, brother of former Union minister Arif Mohammed Khan but managed to hold his ground in the end.