In the recently concluded elections for the 30-member council, the National Conference (NC) emerged victorious by winning 11 seats. Following closely behind, the Congress party secured 7 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to secure 2 seats. Additionally, an independent candidate won 1 seat. This outcome has significant implications for the political landscape, as the distribution of seats among these parties will undoubtedly shape decision-making processes in the council.
The National Conference-Congress alliance has emerged victorious in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections, securing the required number of seats to form the next executive body. With 11 seats won by the NC and 7 seats by the Congress out of the 30-member council, the alliance comfortably surpassed the majority mark. The BJP managed to secure 2 seats, while an independent candidate won 1 seat. The counting for the remaining 5 seats was still underway at the time of reporting. Additionally, there are four nominated members in the council. NC vice-president Omar Abdullah expressed that this election result sends a clear message to those who have divided Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh without the consent of the people. He credited the victory to the people of Zanskar, Kargil, and Drass who decisively endorsed the National Conference-Congress alliance. Abdullah also extended gratitude to the Congress party for their unwavering support. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal congratulated all the winning candidates and expressed confidence in the new era of democracy in Ladakh and Kargil. The Congress party campaigned against divisive forces in the country and urged voters to keep the BJP out, while the National Conference positioned itself as the only solution. The NC’s campaign slogan, “Hal hi hal hai” (The solution is imminent), resonated with the voters. It holds symbolic significance as the National Conference had to approach the Supreme Court after its poll symbol (plough) was denied by the Ladakh administration, following the region’s reorganization as a Union Territory in 2019. The BJP showcased its focus on development and highlighted its work in Jammu and Kashmir as well as an increased budget for the UT. In the previous council, the party had three members, with only one being directly elected and the remaining two being defectors from the PDP. This time, the party fielded 17 candidates for the October 4 polls, and Stanzin Lake, the lone winner in the previous election, retained his seat in the Cha constituency. According to local residents, the BJP’s influence in this election was primarily limited to areas bordering Leh. Leh, a Buddhist majority district led by the Ladakh Buddhist Association, has a different voting pattern compared to Kargil. Kargil, on the other hand, is a Shia Muslim majority area with two prominent religious schools – the Jamiat Ulema Kargil and the Imam Khumaini Memorial Trust, which supports the Congress. These religious bodies have traditionally held significant sway in the region’s elections. However, in this election, Kargil saw some attempts to challenge the control of the religious schools, with young candidates stepping forward. For example, Mohammad Sajjad of the NC won against the BJP and the Congress in the Saliskut area. Previously, the seat was held by independent candidate Agha Syed Hassan. In Drass, NC candidate Abdul Wahid won the Bhimbat constituency from its partner, Congress, while Punchok Tashi, the party’s sitting member, retained his seat in Padum. In Chiktan, where the BJP has some influence, its candidate Padma Dorjey emerged victorious in the Stakchay Khangral constituency, defeating the incumbent Congress candidate. In Ranbirpora, the Congress defeated the NC’s Mubarak Shah by a margin of over 500 votes, while in Choskore, the Congress retained its seat, defeating both the BJP and NC candidates. In Chiktan, Congress candidate Liyaqat Ali Khan defeated the BJP’s Mohsin Ali, who had switched allegiance from the PDP midway through his previous term. Meanwhile, independent candidate Ghulam Mohammad won the Barsoo constituency, defeating candidates from both the Congress and the BJP. In Yourbaltak, the NC’s Manzoor ul Hussain, a first-time candidate, defeated the two-time former Chief Executive Councillor Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan. In Baroo, central Kargil, the Congress’s Khadim Hussain defeated the NC’s district president Mohammad Hanifa Jan as well as three independent candidates. The NC’s Mohammad Abass Adulpa won the Kargil Town constituency, defeating the BJP’s election in-charge Haji Anayat Ali by a margin of 360 votes. The LAHDC serves as the governing body for the district’s developmental needs and is led by a Chief Executive Councillor and four executive councillors who oversee the functions of various government departments in collaboration with the secretaries of the UT administration. Leaders from various political parties emphasized the importance of controlling the hill council to protect the region’s interests from central government control through the Lieutenant-Governor administration. On the streets of Kargil, young voters expressed their biggest challenge in the past four years has been the lack of job opportunities they had access to when Ladakh was part of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. With a majority tribal population, the people of Ladakh were able to secure jobs under ST reservation in the former state. Additionally, the issue of budgets lapsing every year due to a limited working season has raised concerns among voters
In conclusion, the availability of water for both drinking and irrigation played a significant role in the recent election. However, the people of Ladakh face a unique challenge due to being cut off from J&K and other parts of the country during the winter months. With the completion of the Zojila tunnel on the horizon, there is hope for all-weather connectivity in Ladakh. This crucial infrastructure project has the potential to transform the region and ensure a reliable water supply for the community. Let us keep our fingers crossed for the successful completion of the Zojila tunnel and a brighter future for Ladakh.
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