The traditional political rivals in ladakh —Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — are confronted by a freshly formed group — New ladakh Movement (NlM) in poll fray posing challenge to their prospectus to form ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (lAHDC) in leh. The election for 26 counselor seats is scheduled for October 17. While the Congress is struggling hard to retain sway on Hill Council, the BJP’s prestige is at stake in the backdrop of holding the parliamentary seat and being coalition partner in the State.
The Congress has fielded 25 candidates including 15 first-timers to assure the electorate that the party was up for a change on the ground. The BJP has fielded 24 candidates. But what has attracted the attention of political observers is the fielding of 15 candidates by NlM, a group formed last month by upstart politicians, who have worked in social and political sectors and sought to challenge the traditional political class at various levels.
The group is headed by Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer, who has played vital role in reforming educational system in the region.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has fielded 8 candidates independent of its coalition partner BJP while the Opposition National Conference with least influence in the region has also fielded 8 candidates.
The Congress fielded its senior leader and former legislator Narboo Gyalson to challenge Wangchuk at Khaltsi, which NlM describes as its “victory before the poll results”. A senior Congress leader Chewang Rigzin has also joined NlM and filed papers from two places. The Congress supported an independent candidate to challenge Rigzin at Diksit, a seat he has won repeatedly.
However, Congress says that it is not perturbed by NlM’s entry into poll fray. “It is a matter of days when people would know how influential they (NlM) are on the ground. They won’t be able to open their account”, outgoing Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) and senior Congress leader T Samphel said.
On the contrary, NlM spokesman Chewang Dorje said that Congress was not able to find candidates at places like Diksit and Khatsi. “This is the reason as to why the Congress fielded its senior leader from Khatsi to face Sonam Wangchuk”, Dorje said. The NlM claims that the new Hill Council would not be formed without their support.
The BJP’s two stalwart—MP Thupstan Chewang and Cooperatives Minister in Mufti Sayeed’s cabinet Chering Dorje have launched a massive campaign to take over the leh’s political fortress. The party’s CEC candidate Dr Sonam Dawa claims that it would have a smooth sailing in the elections with the support of Buddhist spiritual leaders. The BJP has not fielded candidates in Wanla and Turtuk where PDP has fielded its candidates. This is seen as a tacit understanding between the coalition partners though they have announced to go for polls independently.
Interestingly, the Opposition NC has joined the council polls after a long time. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah recently toured ladakh region to restructure his party. The party’s Ponchok Wangdan has emerged as a major challenge to incumbent CEC Rigzin Spalbar in leh council constituency where Congress has suffered dissention.
Around 80, 811 voters have been registered to exercise their franchise on October 17. The district administration has directed the political parties to strictly adhere to the Model Code of Conduct during the polls.