Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday offered advice to Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister-designate, Omar Abdullah, urging him to seek assistance if he encounters any difficulties while governing the Union Territory. Speaking at a rally in Doda, where AAP candidate Mehraj Malik secured victory, Kejriwal remarked, “Just like Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir has been treated as a half state, with all powers given to the Lieutenant Governor. If you face any challenges in your role, feel free to ask me; I know how to run Delhi.”
Kejriwal expressed hope that Malik, who won AAP’s first seat in the J&K elections, would be given a significant role in Abdullah’s government. He stated, “Since AAP has supported the Omar Abdullah government, I trust that Mehraj Malik will be entrusted with responsibilities to serve the entire Jammu and Kashmir along with Doda.”
On October 8, Mehraj Malik triumphed in the elections, defeating BJP candidate Gajay Singh Rana by a margin of over 4,538 votes. Malik, a District Development Council (DDC) member, garnered 23,228 votes, while Rana received 18,690 votes. Other candidates, including National Conference leader Khalid Najib Suharwardy and DPAP leader Abdul Majid Wani, received 13,334 and 10,027 votes, respectively. Congress candidate Sheikh Riaz Ahmad finished fifth with just 4,170 votes.
Last week, Omar Abdullah was elected as the leader of the legislature party. Following a meeting with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he staked his claim to form the government, submitting letters of support received from allied parties. Abdullah indicated that the swearing-in ceremony could take place on Tuesday (October 15) or Wednesday (October 16), as the LG noted that the paperwork could take 2-3 days to finalize.
The National Conference-Congress alliance has regained power in Jammu and Kashmir following the assembly elections, securing 48 seats, with the National Conference playing a pivotal role as Congress won only six seats.
