Mehraj Malik (File photo) NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured its maiden victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on Tuesday, marking its entry into a fifth state. AAP candidate Mehraj Malik emerged victorious in the Doda constituency , defeating his closest competitor from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of over 4,538 votes. Malik, who currently serves as a District Development Council (DDC) member, garnered 23,228 votes, while BJP's Gajay Singh Rana received 18,690 votes.
Other prominent candidates in the race included National Conference leader and former minister Khalid Najib Suharwardy and DPAP leader Abdul Majid Wani, who secured 13,334 and 10,027 votes, respectively. Congress candidate Sheikh Riaz Ahmad finished in fifth place with 4,170 votes. Earlier this year, Malik had contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Udhampur constituency but was unsuccessful in his bid.
In the assembly elections, AAP fielded candidates in seven out of the 90 assembly segments. Haryana Jammu & Kashmir Haryana Alliance View i Party View Seats: 90 L + W Majority: 46 BJP 49 CONG 36 INLD 2 AAP 0 OTH 3 Leads + Wins : 90 / 90 BJP LEADING Jammu & Kashmir Alliance View i Party View Seats: 90 L + W Majority: 46 JKNC 42 BJP 29 CONG 6 PDP 3 OTH 10 Leads + Wins : 90 / 90 JKNC LEADING Source: PValue The party, which currently holds power in Delhi and Punjab, was accorded national party status in September 2022. Additionally, AAP has elected representatives in the stat.