Buoyed by the poll win in neighbouring Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday announced its presence in Jammu with an impressive road show in Doda.
The show was led by AAP leader Mehraj Malik, who won the Doda District Development Council (DDC) poll as an independent candidate last year. Riding buses, two-wheelers and cars, the AAP supporters marched from Kahara in Bhaderwah assembly in Doda district. The constituency is the home turf of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Many people joined the rally amid slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” and “Sher Aya Sher Aya (The tiger is here)”.
The rally comes in the wake of a BJP rally three days ago.
Malik told THE WEEK he joined the AAP because the regional and the national parties have done nothing for the people.
“Before the last assembly polls, the PDP sought votes against the BJP but after elections, formed a coalition government with them,’’ he said. “NC is no better. They wanted me to join the party but I have chosen to work with the AAP because of Arvind Kejriwal.”
He said he was impressed by Kejriwal’s honesty. He said the AAP will be holding similar shows in Kashmir soon.
The success of the AAP in Punjab has attracted many former politicians, including ministers, towards the emerging political force. Kejriwal is likely to address a rally in Jammu in the coming weeks and announce policies and programmes of the party for J&K.
A former minister and two-time MLA along with a prominent independent DDC member from Jammu district and several other important political personalities are likely to join the AAP in the first week of April. A former finance minister from Kashmir, two former cabinet ministers from Jammu region, a two-time MP of National Conference from Kashmir, several former legislators, DDC Members, BDC chairpersons and senior functionaries of different political parties, too, are likely to join in the coming weeks.
Durgesh Pathak is the AAP in-charge for J&K. He is being assisted by co-observers Pardeep Mittal and Salahuddin Khan.
The entry of the AAP on the political turf in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to make the upcoming assembly elections in the UT a tough contest, especially in Jammu regions and Muslim majority Pirpanjal and Chenab valley.
