https://sputniknews.in/20231009/opposition-alliance-succeeds-in-key-ladakh-election-4696651.html
Opposition Alliance Succeeds in Key Ladakh Election
Opposition Alliance Succeeds in Key Ladakh Election
Sputnik India
Constituents of India’s primary opposition alliance, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, which included Indian National Congress and the National Conference, marked a landslide victory in local elections held for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
2023-10-09T19:56+0530
2023-10-09T19:56+0530
2023-10-09T19:56+0530
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Members of India's main opposition alliance, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, have won a landslide victory in the local elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). Since 2019, when the Indian government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and separated it into two centrally administered union territories, J&K and Ladakh, the council has emerged as the most influential elected body in the Ladakh region.Ladakh consists of Kargil and Leh divisions and elections were held in the former to elect 26 councillors. The council has 30 seats, of which four are nominated by the administration.The Ladakh administration reported that the alliance formed between the Indian National Congress and the National Conference of the region secured a significant victory by winning 22 out of the 26 seats available. The National Conference won 12 seats and the Congress 10. The Bhartiya Janata Party won two seats, while two independent candidates also won.Government officials said the election - held through 278 polling stations - recorded a voter turnout of 77.61 per cent. Of the total 95,388 voters, 74,026 cast their votes.The elections in Kargil division were the first major polls held after the revocation of J&K's special status.Politicians speak on Kargil VictoryAlthough the former state chief extended congratulations to his workers and alliance partner, he harbored doubts regarding the feasibility of conducting elections in Jammu and Kashmir.Other regional politicians also issued statements in support of the Congress-NC victory in Ladakh. Former state chief and head of regions Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti said: “Heartening to see secular parties like NC and Congress register their victory in Kargil. It’s the first election post 2019 and people of Ladakh have spoken.”The Congress party, following their victory, wrote on social media website X (formerly twitter): “This is the victory of love against hatred. There is the victory of people's trust in Congress. The victory of love and trust will continue.''Polls' ImportanceThe last assembly elections in the erstwhile state of J&K were held in 2014. In 2018, due to political disagreements, the coalition government formed by the Bhartiya Janata Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Peoples Conference, came to an end. General elections will be held in the region in 2019 and local body elections in 2020.When Ladakh enjoyed semi-autonomous status, government jobs and land ownership rights were reserved for locals only. In addition, Ladakh successfully elected four representatives to the state legislative assembly and one representative to India's parliament, the Lok Sabha.Following the revocation of J&K's special status and the separation of Ladakh by the federal government, it was determined that the region would no longer possess a local assembly. Instead, the federal government said it would work to strengthen locally elected representative councils, also known as Hill Development Councils.However, locals in Ladakh have raised concerns about non-residents taking up government jobs and investing in local businesses. Locals have demanded that the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution be applied to the region. The Schedule guarantees exclusive rights of land ownership and government jobs to the indigenous population.Several social, political and student organisations have also formed two alliances - the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) - to put forward the demands of the people of Leh and Kargil respectively.A victory in the elections will establish the mood for the entire Ladakh region leading up to the general elections anticipated to take place in April 2024.
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Opposition Alliance Succeeds in Key Ladakh Election
The Indian National Congress and the National Conference, both constituents of the opposition alliance, registered a victory in the local body elections in the Kargil division of the Ladakh region.
Members of India's main opposition alliance, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, have won a landslide victory in the local elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
Since 2019, when the Indian
government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and separated it into two centrally administered union territories, J&K and
Ladakh, the council has emerged as the most influential elected body in the Ladakh region.
Ladakh consists of Kargil and Leh divisions and elections were held in the former to elect 26 councillors. The council has 30 seats, of which four are nominated by the administration.
The Ladakh administration reported that the alliance formed between the Indian National Congress and the National Conference of the region secured a significant victory by winning 22 out of the 26 seats available. The National Conference won 12 seats and the Congress 10. The Bhartiya Janata Party won two seats, while two independent candidates also won.
Government officials said the election - held through 278 polling stations - recorded a voter turnout of 77.61 per cent. Of the total 95,388 voters, 74,026 cast their votes.
The elections in Kargil division were the first major polls held after the revocation of J&K's special status.
Politicians speak on Kargil Victory
“The BJP tried to tell the world that dividing Ladakh from J&K was the wish of the people of Ladakh. Today it was proven the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and removing Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir was not only a decision disliked by people of Jammu or Kashmir, but the people of Kargil also hated it (decision),” former Jammu and Kashmir state chief and vice president of National Conference Omar Abdullah shared in a press conference held on Monday.
Although the former state chief extended congratulations to his workers and
alliance partner, he harbored doubts regarding the feasibility of conducting elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“After the victory, it seems elections have gotten far from us. The Centre does not want to hold either assembly elections or panchayat (local body) polls,” said Abdullah.
Other regional politicians also issued statements in support of the Congress-NC victory in Ladakh. Former state chief and head of regions Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti said: “Heartening to see secular parties like NC and Congress register their victory in Kargil. It’s the first election post 2019 and people of Ladakh have spoken.”
The Congress party, following their victory, wrote on social media website X (formerly twitter): “This is the victory of love against hatred. There is the victory of people's trust in Congress. The victory of love and trust will continue.''
The last assembly elections in the erstwhile state of J&K were held in 2014. In 2018, due to political disagreements, the coalition government formed by the Bhartiya Janata Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Peoples Conference, came to an end. General elections will be held in the region in 2019 and local body elections in 2020.
When Ladakh enjoyed semi-autonomous status, government jobs and land ownership rights were reserved for locals only. In addition, Ladakh successfully elected four representatives to the state legislative assembly and one representative to India's parliament, the Lok Sabha.
Following the revocation of J&K's special status and the separation of Ladakh by the federal government, it was determined that the region would no longer possess a local assembly. Instead, the federal government said it would work to strengthen locally elected representative councils, also known as Hill Development Councils.
However, locals in Ladakh have raised
concerns about non-residents taking up government jobs and investing in local businesses. Locals have demanded that the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution be applied to the region. The Schedule guarantees exclusive rights of land ownership and government jobs to the indigenous population.
Several social, political and student organisations have also formed
two alliances - the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) - to put forward the demands of the people of Leh and Kargil respectively.
A victory in the elections will establish the mood for the entire Ladakh region leading up to the general elections anticipated to take place in April 2024.
