8 segments have maximum 5 candidates
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: Eight constituencies in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil have highest number of five candidates each while six seats will witness direct contest.
The National Conference Advocates have again knocked the doors of the Supreme Court for allotment of ‘Plough’ symbol as their all candidates have been declared as Independents in the list of contestants released by the Election Authority.
“Our Advocates have reached the Supreme Court and hopefully the case will be listed anytime. Our candidates have been declared as Independents but we want ‘Plough’ symbol to be allotted to them as per the earlier court directives,” National Conference district president Haji Hanifa Jan told the Excelsior.
NC candidates in all the seats have been treated as Independents.
However, the candidates of other recognized political parties including BJP, Congress and AAP have got their symbols.
Eight seats where highest number of five candidates are in the contest for the LAHDC Kargil elections scheduled for September 10 are Bhimbat, Baroo, Poyen, Gundmanalpur, Lankarchey, Barsoo, Chiktan and Stakchey Khangral.
Six constituencies which will witness direct contest between two candidates include Tai-Suru, Parkachik, Cha, Saliskut, Thangdumbur and Shakar.
Congress has fielded 21 candidates, Bharatiya Janata Party 17 and Aam Aadmi Party four. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which had two Councilors in the outgoing Council hasn’t fielded any candidate this time.
Though National Conference candidates have been declared as Independents, the party is in fray on about 20–22 seats.
National Conference and Congress have left four to five seats for each other.
This will be fifth election to LAHDC Kargil which had come into effect in 2003.
The LAHDC Kargil has total strength of 30. While election is held for 26 seats, four Councilors are nominated by the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh with voting rights. Thus, a party has to win 16 seats to secure majority.
National Conference leader Feroz Khan remained as chairperson-cum-Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) of LAHDC Kargil throughout the five-year term of the outgoing Council.
The National Conference and Congress have already announced post-poll alliance for the LAHDC Kargil elections.
In 2018 election, National Conference had won 10 seats and Congress 8. PDP had garnered two seats and BJP one while there were five Independents. Initially NC and Congress shared power in the Council but later NC formed its own city Government with Independents.
PDP Councilors had later switched over to BJP while four nominated Councilors were also its leaders which took party’s strength to seven.
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