LAB, KDA to meet after Eid to discuss all issues
*BJP, Cong yet to announce candidates
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 8: In a major political development in the Union Territory of Ladakh, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are spearheading agitation for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status, will hold joint sitting after Eid to take up host of issues including fielding a joint candidate for Ladakh Lok Sabha seat.
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Significantly, none of the major political parties including the BJP, which has been holding Ladakh Parliamentary constituency for last two consecutive terms, and the Congress have announced their candidates for the seat, which will go to polls in fifth phase on May 20, so far.
The National Conference, which holds considerable influence in Kargil district and has also won the seat or backed the Independents who emerged victorious, has given Ladakh seat to Congress as per seat sharing agreement between the two parties. In turn, the Congress hasn’t fielded any candidates against the National Conference in Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch seats.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakruk told the Excelsior that a joint meeting of the LAB and KDA will be held after Eid festival this week. Venue of the meeting is yet to be decided but it can be either Leh or Kargil. Or even, it can be a virtual meet, he added.
Asked whether fielding a consensus candidate on Ladakh seat by the LAB and KDA will figure in the joint meeting of two bodies, Lakruk said it will be discussed. In fact, he didn’t rule out the possibility of the LAB and KDA putting up a joint candidate for Lok Sabha seat though it seems a difficult task.
It may be mentioned here that LAB is body of Leh district while KDA represents Kargil district. Leh district is dominated by Buddhists and Kargil by Muslims.
On the absence of LAB chairman and former MP Thupstan Chhewang from the agitation for the past few days, Lakruk said he too has no contact with him as his mobile telephone is switched off. “We were told that he has gone for treatment,’’ he added.
After LAB and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk announced cancellation of ‘Pashmina March (Border March)’ scheduled for April 7 following imposition of prohibitory orders by the district administration, the LAB co-chairman said they have scaled down the agitation but it will continue. However, on every Sunday, there will be a big protest and dharna is also going on.
Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress have also not announced their candidates for lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
BJP won Ladakh Parliamentary seat for two consecutive terms in 2014 and 2019. While Thupstan Chhewang won the seat for the first time for the BJP in 2019, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal emerged victorious in 2019.
The BJP leaders said three-four names are under consideration of the BJP high command for Ladakh seat but no decision has been taken so far. Names of Jamyang Tsering Namgayal, Chairman-cum-CEC Leh Hill Council Tashi Gyalson and Stanzin Lakpa, Councillor, Kargil Hill Development Council are under consideration among others.
The Congress too hasn’t named its candidate for Ladakh constituency. Congress UT chief Nawang Rigzin Jora, who is also part of LAB, is front-runner from the party though others names are also under consideration of the party high command.
Political observers are of the view that if the LAB and KDA field joint candidate on Ladakh seat, it will be a quite interesting political development.
Leh Hill Development Council is being ruled by the BJP for second consecutive term while NC-Congress have jointly formed the City Government in Kargil Hill Development Council in the elections held last year.
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