Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 4: Three nomination papers including two covering candidates for BJP and Congress and an Independent were rejected during scrutiny of papers for the Ladakh Parliamentary constituency today, leaving five candidates in the fray.
Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency, the largest in the country with a total area of 173.266 sq km and more than 1.82 lakh voters, will go to polls in the fifth phase of elections on May 20.
The last date for withdrawal of the candidature is May 6.
After scrutiny, nomination forms of five candidates were found valid, while the candidatures of BJP’s and Congress’ covering candidates Stanzin Lakpa and Smanla Dorje Nurboo were cancelled.
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The nomination of Independent candidate Ghulam Nabi Zia, whose form was found incomplete, was rejected as well.
Of the five remaining candidates, BJP’s Tashi Gyalson and Congress’ Tsering Namgyal are from Leh. The three Independents, Mohammad Haneefa Jan, Sajjad Hussain Kargili, and Kacho Mohd Feroz are all from Kargil.
Haneefa Jan has been fielded jointly by National Conference and Congress leadership of Kargil though the Congress has official announced the candidature of Tsering Namgayal. Kargili is affiliated with Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) but the KDA hasn’t officially named him. Kacho Feroz is Executive Councillor in Kargil Hill Development Congress and is a Congress leader. He is believed to be the covering candidate for Haneefa Jan and may opt out of the race on last date of withdrawal.
BJP’s Tashi Gyalson is Chairman-cum-CEC of Leh Hill Development Council while his Congress rival Tsering Namgayal is Leader of Opposition (LOP) in the Hill Council.
Thupstan Chhewang won the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat from the BJP for the first time in 2014.
He resigned from the party in 2018 and is presently heading the Leh Apex Body, which, along with Kargil Democratic Alliance, is spearheading an agitation for restoration of Statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Union Territory.
The BJP managed to retain the seat in 2019 general election through Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who, after he was denied a ticket this time, openly revolted against the party.
He, however, joined the campaign for the party nominee Gyalson yesterday, ending the over week-long uncertainty in the party camp.
Congress has won the seat six times — the highest, National Conference twice, and Independents thrice since it came into existence in 1967.
As per INDIA bloc agreement, Ladakh seat had gone to Congress along with Jammu and Udhampur while three seats of Kashmir are being contested by the National Conference.
Congress UT chief Rigzin Jora has lamented the NC decision to field their district president from Ladakh. However, there has been no reaction from NC leadership including Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on the breach of INDIA block agreement.
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