The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, has made a significant breakthrough in Jammu and Kashmir by winning the Doda assembly constituency. AAP candidate Mehraj Malik triumphed over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Gajay Singh Rana in a closely contested election.
Malik, known for his outspoken approach, campaigned vigorously against the BJP, Congress, and the National Conference. As an elected District Development Councilor (DDC), he gained popularity for his sharp criticism of the administration under the Lieutenant Governor. At 36, Malik focused his campaign on the promise of enhancing basic amenities for the residents of his mountainous constituency. His efforts received a boost following a rally held by AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in Doda, further energizing Malik’s campaign in the region.
Counting of votes began at 8 AM amidst multi-tier security across district headquarters. The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the first since 2014, were conducted in three phases. The initial phase took place on September 18, covering 24 seats, followed by the second phase on September 25 for 26 seats, and the final phase on October 1 for the remaining 40 seats. Overall, polling remained peaceful, with a voter turnout of 63.45 percent, slightly lower than the 65.52 percent recorded in the 2014 assembly elections.
Exit polls have indicated that the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance may have an edge over the BJP in the region. According to CVoter projections, the BJP is expected to secure 27-32 seats out of 43 in the Jammu region, while the NC-Congress alliance is anticipated to win 11-15 seats. In Kashmir, projections suggest that the NC-Congress could gain 29-33 seats out of 47, with the BJP and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expected to secure minimal representation. To form a government, a party or alliance needs 46 seats out of the total 90.
