While much of the focus in the Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections was on the battle between the BJP and Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) quietly marked its presence in Jammu and Kashmir. AAP secured its first-ever win in the state as Mehraj Malik triumphed in the Doda constituency, defeating BJP’s Gajay Singh Rana by over 4,500 votes. However, AAP faced a stark contrast in Haryana, where the party was outright rejected despite contesting in nearly every constituency.
According to the Election Commission, Malik garnered 23,228 votes, while Rana received 18,690. The victory in Doda was a significant moment for AAP, a party that already governs in Delhi and Punjab, neighboring states to Haryana. Malik’s win brings AAP representation to a fifth state, marking a milestone for the party in expanding its footprint outside its traditional strongholds.
AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate Malik. “Hearty congratulations to Aam Aadmi Party candidate Mehraj Malik for achieving a resounding victory by defeating the BJP in Doda. You fought an excellent election. Congratulations to the entire Aam Aadmi Party for having an MLA in a fifth state,” Kejriwal wrote.
While AAP celebrated its success in Jammu and Kashmir, where the National Conference (NC) was leading in over 41 seats as of 2 PM, its performance in Haryana was a major setback. AAP fielded candidates in 89 out of the 90 assembly constituencies in the state, but failed to make any inroads, a crushing blow for a party that had high hopes in Kejriwal’s home state.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the election also carried strong political undertones. After the results became clearer, former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah commented on the mandate, saying, “People have given their mandate; they have proven that they don’t accept the decision that was taken on August 5… Omar Abdullah will be the Chief Minister,” referring to the controversial revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
The Doda victory is significant for AAP, but the broader context of the elections shows the limitations the party still faces in regions like Haryana. While the party’s success in Punjab and Delhi remains a solid foundation, it has yet to capture similar enthusiasm in other states, especially in its leader’s home turf. AAP’s Haryana debacle highlights the challenges Kejriwal’s party faces in translating its regional success into national or broader regional influence.
With both the Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana election results now in focus, AAP must reassess its strategy in states like Haryana, even as it basks in the victory in Doda. The contrasting outcomes in the two states signal that AAP’s influence is far from uniform across India’s political landscape.