AAP Makes History In J&K, 35-Yr-Old Mehraj Malik Wins Doda Defeating BJP

J&K Results 2024: Doda assembly seat, previously held by the BJP’s Shakti Raj in 2014, has traditionally been a battleground for the National Conference and Congress since the first election in 1962.

AAP's Mehraj Malik win in J&K marks AAP’s latest expansion after earlier successes in Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat assemblies.

Source : Facebook/@AAPMehrajMalikk

J&K Poll Results 2024: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has achieved a historic milestone by winning its first-ever seat in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Mehraj Malik, the party’s candidate from Doda, secured a decisive victory over BJP’s Gajay Singh Rana, winning by a margin of over 4,000 votes. This marks AAP’s latest expansion after earlier successes in Delhi, Punjab, Goa and Gujarat assemblies.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal congratulated Malik on his victory, stating, "Many congratulations to Aam Aadmi Party's candidate Mehraj Malik for securing a brilliant victory by defeating BJP in Doda. You fought the election very well. Congratulations to the entire Aam Aadmi Party for having an MLA in the fifth state."

डोडा से आम आदमी पार्टी के उम्मीदवार मेहराज मलिक द्वारा बीजेपी को हराकर शानदार जीत हासिल करने के लिए बहुत बहुत बधाई। आप बहुत अच्छा चुनाव लड़े।

पांचवें राज्य में MLA बनने पर पूरी आम आदमी पार्टी को बधाई।

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 8, 2024

AAP's success in Jammu and Kashmir comes as a surprise, especially after the party's defeat in Haryana, where it struggled to agree on a seat-sharing arrangement with Congress under the INDIA bloc alliance.

The Doda assembly seat, previously held by the BJP’s Shakti Raj in 2014, has traditionally been a battleground for the National Conference and Congress since the first election in 1962. Malik's win is a significant breakthrough for AAP in the region.

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Who Is Mehraj Malik?

Mehraj Malik, 35, began his political journey as an Independent candidate in the 2014 Assembly elections at the age of 26. In 2020, he gained prominence by winning the District Development Council (DDC) polls as an independent with a margin of 3,511 votes, becoming the DDC Councillor for the Kahara constituency. On October 17, 2022, AAP appointed him as the co-chairman of the J&K State Coordination Committee, paving the way for his political rise.

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