65.17 per cent polling recorded in LAHDC elections

LEH: Around 65.17 per cent votes cast their ballots in the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh to elect 26 councilors despite cold weather conditions here today.    

An official spokesperson here this evening said the voting started at 0800 hrs with good number of electorate turning out to cast their votes since morning at almost all the polling stations in Leh and surrounding villages braving chill.     

He said 65.17 per cent voters exercised their franchise. 93-year-old Abhi Dolma from Skara was among the oldest voters to cast his vote today, he said. A large number of young voters were also seen waiting for their turn at all polling stations across the district before the start of the polling, he said.    

The candidates from Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and New Ladakh Movement are in fray apart from the independent candidates.    

The counting is scheduled to be held on October 23 to decide the fate of 90 candidates.    

A significant number of women candidates are also in the fray in this election, setting a new trend towards their participation in decision making process in the district. (AGENCIES)