Ladakh Elections 2023: Kargil All Set for First Ladakh Key Polls Since Article 370 Was Revoked

Ladakh Elections 2023: Kargil All Set for First Ladakh Key Polls Since Article 370 Was Revoked

VoM News Desk | October 4, 2023 | 12:12 AM IST | Elections 2023, Ladakh (Union Territory) | Follow on Google News

Ladakh Elections 2023: Kargil All Set for First Ladakh Key Polls Since Article 370 Was Revoked

Ladakh Elections 2023: Kargil All Set for First Ladakh Key Polls Since Article 370 Was Revoked

First Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Elections after Article 370

As the election fervor grips Drass, known as the world’s second-coldest inhabited place, preparations are underway for the first Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections in Kargil since the historic revocation of Article 370 and the subsequent establishment of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory (UT) in August 2019. This election is shaping up to be a significant battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a united Opposition alliance comprising the National Conference and Congress. The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, is being closely watched as a potential referendum on the acceptance of the Centre’s decision on August 5, 2019.

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Identity vs. Development: The Voter Perspective

For the residents of Drass, Wednesday’s vote represents more than just a choice between candidates; it symbolizes a struggle for identity. Mohammad Iqbal, a 73-year-old resident who has worked as an Army porter for four decades, including during the Kargil War in 1999, articulated this sentiment. He highlighted the political disempowerment felt by the people since Ladakh’s transformation into a Union Territory. With no elected MLAs or ministers, the Hill Council’s authority has waned, making this election all the more significant for the local population.

Candidates and Political Dynamics

A total of 85 candidates are contesting the 26 seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil. The BJP is fielding candidates in 17 seats and supporting some Independent candidates. Traditionally, Kargil has been a stronghold of the National Conference (NC), with the Congress as its main rival. However, this election has witnessed an unusual alliance between the two opposition parties as they join forces to challenge the BJP’s dominance. Two influential religious institutions, the Jamiat Ulema Kargil (Islamia School) and the Imam Khumaini Memorial Trust (aligned with the Congress), are central players in Kargil’s political landscape. These institutions, along with religious clerics, have called upon the people to vote against the BJP.

Religious and Historical Dimensions

During the election campaign, Jamyang Namgyal, the BJP MP from Ladakh, made provocative statements, referring to NC chief Farooq Abdullah as a “Yazid” – a historically significant figure associated with hate by Shia Muslims for his role in the killing of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in the battle of Karbala. The BJP MP criticized Abdullah for allegedly not allowing Muharram processions in Srinagar to mourn Imam Hussain’s martyrdom.

In a prior development, the Ladakh administration had denied the “plough” symbol to National Conference candidates, leading to a legal battle that resulted in the Supreme Court setting aside the Ladakh hill council polls, originally scheduled for September 10. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the Ladakh administration rescheduled the polling to October 4, with results set to be announced on October 8.

These hill council elections gain significance due to a rare political alliance formed between Buddhist and Muslim groups in Ladakh, united in their opposition to Ladakh’s UT status. Over the past three years, political parties, social organizations, and religious groups in Ladakh have forged an alliance demanding full statehood and constitutional protection under the 6th schedule.

VoM News Desk

VoM News is an online web portal in jammu Kashmir offers regional, National & global news.