Counting Underway for LAHDC-Kargil Election

Counting Underway for LAHDC-Kargil Election

Counting Underway for LAHDC-Kargil Election

The counting of votes for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil election began on October 8, 2023, marking the first such election since the abrogation of Article 370 and the establishment of the Ladakh union territory in 2019. The election, which took place on October 4, featured a triangular contest between the National Conference (NC), Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across most of the 26 seats.

Impressive Voter Turnout

An impressive voter turnout was observed during the election, with approximately 73% of eligible voters exercising their right to franchise. Out of a total of 95,388 voters, 74,026 participated in the election, signaling strong public participation.

Stringent Security Measures in Place

Strict security measures have been implemented in and around the government Polytechnic College, the venue for the vote counting process. Authorities have taken steps to ensure the safety and integrity of the electoral process.

Triangular Contest

In the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council election, 26 seats were contested, while four councillors with voting rights were nominated by the administration. The contest primarily featured the Congress, the National Conference (NC), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

• Congress contested 22 seats.
• The NC contested 17 seats, despite their pre-poll alliance with the Congress, which was limited to areas where the BJP posed a significant challenge.
• The BJP fielded 17 candidates, aiming to build upon its previous election victory where it secured one seat, subsequently increasing its tally to three with the addition of two PDP councillors who joined the party.

Other Contestants

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also entered the electoral fray, fielding candidates for four seats. Additionally, 25 independent candidates sought election to the LAHDC-Kargil.

The previous council, led by NC’s Feroz Ahmad Khan, completed its five-year term on October 1, with the new council set to be established by October 11.