6th LAHDC-Leh elections:- BJP wins 15 out of 26, congress wins 09
Aam Admi party fails to open account
Leh Oct, 26 (PTK) The BJP won 15 out of 26 seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) polls in Leh Monday, the first election held in the region after the scrapping of Article 370.
A total of 94 candidates from various political outfits were in the fray and 15 candidates fielded by the BJP were elected as councilors for the next five years. The Congress won in nine constituencies, while Independent candidates won on two seats.
Regional parties, including the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), did not contest this time. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which was contesting the polls for the first time, failed to open its account.
The BJP, however, failed to beat its previous record of winning 18 of the 26 seats in LAHDC elections in October 2015. The Congress, meanwhile, registered an improvement in its tally by winning on four more seats this time. It had won on five seats in the last elections. The NC had won on two seats, while one seat was won by an Independent.
The LAHDC Leh, which was formed in 1995 to strengthen local governance, has a total of 30 seats but elections are fought only on 26. The councilors for the renaming four seats are nominated by the party that wins the majority of the seats. The nominated seats, however, have no voting rights within the body.
The BJP and Congress fielded its candidates on all 26 seats, while the AAP fielded on 19. Twenty-three Independent candidates were also in the fray.
Polls held amid boycott calls
With regional parties out of the race, the BJP was expected to get the lion’s share, given the Narendra Modi government’s decision to scrap Article 370 and divide the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
While Kargil division had opposed the Centre’s decision by observing shutdowns last year, the Leh region had welcomed revocation of special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Around 89,700 voters exercised their franchise in the polls that were marred by protests since the dates were announced last month.
On 22 September, a group representing religious organisations, student groups and political parties in Leh unanimously decided to boycott the polls. The group — The Apex Body of People’s Movement for Sixth Schedule for Ladakh — represented local units of various political parties, including the BJP, AAP and Congress.
The alliance passed a resolution stating that local residents have demanded Ladakh be brought under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, and constitutional safeguards on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Council.
The seats and leaders from where BJP has include Turtuk – Gulam Mehdi, Hundar – Kunzang Lotus, Panamik- Tsering Sandup, Diskit – Tsering Angchok, Tegar- Rigzin Lundup, Tangtse – Tashi Namgyal Yakzee, Korzok- Karma Namdak, Kyungyam- Thinless Nurboo, Martselang- Stanzin Chospel, Thiksey- Stanzin Chosfail, Skumarkha- Sonam Nurbu, Chuchot-Mirza Hussain, Lamayuru- Morup Dorjay, Lingshed- Tashi Gyaltson and Khaltsi- Lobzang Sherab
Congress leaders from won from areas which includes Igoo – Sonam Thardos, Sakti- Rigzin Tsering, Basgo- Tsering Nurboo, Saspol- Smanla Dorjay Norbu, lower Leh – Tsering Namgyal, Phyang- Tundup Nurbu Cheeta, Upper Leh – Phunsog Stanzin Tsepag, Skurbuchan- Lundup Dorjey and Temisgam- Sonam Dorjay
Chuchul seat was won by Konchok while as
Nyoma seat waa won Ishey Spalzang, both are independents.(PTK)
