People of Kargil on Sunday delivered a clear verdict in favour of the National Conference Congress alliance in the first ever local elections held after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh into two Union Territories.

The National Conference emerged as the single largest party in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil.

Till the time of filing the report, the results of 25 seats were declared. The last round of counting for the remaining one seat was going on.

Out of these 25 seats, the National Conference won 12 seats. The Congress, which had fielded a maximum number of 22 candidates, managed to win nine seats while the BJP could win only two seats out of the 17 seats it contested. Out of 25 independent candidates in the fray, only two among them secured majority votes and emerged victorious.

Reacting to the verdict Omar Abdullah posted on X (earlier Twitter ), “Thank you, Kargil.” A large number of supporters of the National Conference and the Congress party had gathered outside the counting centre and celebrated the victory of the party candidates.

In terms of total vote share, the Congress party garnered the highest share of 28 per cent of total votes polled followed by 24 per cent by the National Conference. Independent candidates garnered roughly 17 per cent of votes, and a little over 10 per cent of votes were secured by the BJP.  The council has a total of 30 seats out of which elections were held on 26 seats. Four councillors are nominated by the administration.

According to the election authorities in Kargil,  “Out of  95388 total voters, 74026 voters exercised their right to franchise on October 4, recording  77.61 per cent voter turnout. A total number of 85 candidates were in the fray.

In the outgoing council, National Conference had won 10 seats followed by Congress 8 seats, PDP 2 seats, BJP 1, and 5 Independents. In 2013, no party had managed to get a clear majority with Congress emerging as the single largest party winning 10 seats followed by the National Conference and Independents eight each.

During the aggressive poll campaign, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah had urged voters to send a “clear message to reject or accept” the NDA government’s August 5, 2019 decision.

The two prestigious seats of Kargil town and Rambirpora (Drass) were won by the  National Conference and Congress party respectively. BJP candidate Padma Dorjey won the Stakchay Khangral Constituency with a voting margin of 177 votes, he received 1007 votes, followed by Syed Hassan (INC) 830 votes and Ghulam Hussain (JKNC) 479 votes. A total of 2656 votes were cast in the constituency.

Another  BJP candidate Stanzin Lakpa won Cha Constituency with a voting margin of 234 votes. He received 798 votes, followed by Tenzin Sonam (INC) with 564 votes A total of 1371 votes were cast.

JKNC candidate Mohammad Sajjad won the Saliskut Constituency with a margin of 200 votes. Over 90 percent of voters had exercised their right to vote in the constituency on October 4.

He bagged 1144 votes, followed by Syed Hassan (INC) with 944 votes and Ahmad Hussain (BJP) with 66 votes. A total of 2164 votes were cast. Independent Candidate Ghulam Mohammad won Barsoo Constituency with a voting margin of 228 votes. He received 1411 votes, followed by Ghulam Abass Wazir (INC) 1183 votes and Abdul Hani (BJP) 51 votes. A total of 2653 votes were cast in the constituency. JKNC Candidate Syed Mujtaba won the Trespone Constituency with a margin of 186 votes. He bagged 1292 votes, followed by Nawaz Ali (Ind.) with 1106 votes and Ahmad Hussain (Ind.) with 750 votes A total of 3160 votes were cast.

JKNC candidate Ghulam Hyder won the Lankerchey Constituency with a margin of 416 votes. He bagged 1203 votes, followed by Mohammad Sadiq (INC) with 786 votes, Syed Shamsuddin (Ind.) with 289 votes and Mansoor Hussain (BJP) with 127 votes. A total of 2488 votes were cast.  JKNC Candidate Ashiq Ali won the Thangdumbur Constituency with a voting margin of 1124 votes. He bagged 1643 votes, followed by Mohammad Ali (BJP) with 519 votes. A total of 2193 votes were cast.

JKNC Candidate Mohammad Amin won the Poyen Constituency with a voting margin of 360 votes. He bagged 1322 votes, followed by Haji Anayat Ali (BJP) with 962 votes, Murtaza Ali (INC) with 954 votes and Mohammad Hussain (AAP) with 22 votes. A total of 3284 votes were cast.  JKNC candidate PunchokTashi won Padum Constituency with a voting margin of 54 votes, he received 1745 votes, followed by Skalzang Wangyal (BJP) 1691 votes. A total of 3455 votes were cast in the constituency. Congress candidate Abdul Samad won the Rambirpora-Drass Constituency with a voting margin of 575 votes. He received 1949 votes, followed by Mubarak Shah Naqvi (JKNC) 1374 and Faiyaz Ahmad Qari (BJP) 545 votes. A total of 3896 votes were cast in the constituency.

 INC candidate Abdul Hadi won Tai- Suru Constituency with a voting margin of 261 votes. He received 1717 votes, followed by Syed Abbass (JKNC) 1456 votes. A total of 3185 votes were cast in the constituency.

INC candidate Agha Ainul Huda won Parkachik Constituency with a voting margin of 1128 votes. He received 2165 votes, followed by Ghulam Mohammad (Independent) 1037 votes. A total of 3215 votes were cast.

INC candidate Liyaqat Ali Khan won Chiktan Constituency with a voting margin of 361 votes. He received 850 votes, followed by Mohsin Ali (BJP) 489 votes and Niyaz Hussain (Independent) 433 votes.

A total of 2377 votes were cast in the constituency. JKNC candidate Manzoor Ul Husain won Yourbaltak Constituency with a voting margin of 90 votes. He received 1452 votes, followed by Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan (Ind.) 1362 votes and Mohammad Hassan Pasha (BJP) 439 votes. A total of 3276 votes were cast in the constituency.

INC candidate Nasir Hussain Munshi won Choskore Constituency with a voting margin of 434 votes. He received 1447 votes, followed by Mohammad Raza (JKNC) 1013 and Bashir Ahmad (BJP) 174 votes. A total of 2655 votes were cast in the constituency.   JKNC candidate Feroz Ahmad Khan won the Silmoo Constituency with a voting margin of 973 votes. He bagged 1638 votes, followed by Mohammad Ali Khan (INC) with 665 votes and Regzen Gutmath (BJP) with 553 votes. A total of 2878 votes were cast. JKNC candidate Mohd Jaffar Akhoon won Thasgaam Thuiana Constituency with a voting margin of 94 votes. He bagged 1405 votes, followed by Sheikh Mohammad Hussain (INC) with 1311 votes and Independent Candidate Akhund Safder Ali with 195 votes. A total of 2973 votes were cast.

JKNC Candidate Mohammad Abass Adulpa won Kargil Town Constituency with a voting margin of 1285 votes. He bagged 1953 votes, followed by Mohammad Hussain (INC) with 668 votes and Independent Candidate Mohammad Raza with 188 votes. A total of 2814 votes were cast. Independent Candidate Syed Ali won the Gund Mangalpur Constituency with a margin of 335 votes. He bagged 1313 votes, followed by Mohammad Abbass (INC) with 978 votes, Syed Mehdi (Independent) with 418 votes and Nasir Hussain (BJP) with 67 votes.

The BJP was dealt a resounding defeat at the hands of the NC-Congress alliance in Kargil on Sunday.

In celebration of our strong alliance with the Congress party, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is delighted to announce its victory in the LAHDC Kargil elections. This result sends a message to all forces and parties that have, undemocratically and unconstitutionally, divided the state of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh without the consent of its people. This victory belongs to the people of Zanskar, Kargil, and Drass, who have decisively endorsed the National Conference-Congress alliance. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the elected councillors, recognizing their dedication to serving the people. We also extend our gratitude to the leadership of the Congress party for their unwavering support. These election results should serve as a wake-up call for the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is time to cease hiding behind the Raj Bhawan and unelected representatives and, instead, acknowledge the people’s rightful desire for a democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. Democracy demands the voices of the people be heard and respected.