Major setback for National Conference in Ladakh as its Kargil unit resigns over choice of LS candidate
Major setback for National Conference in Ladakh as its Kargil unit resigns over choice of LS candidate
NEW DELHI: In a significant setback for the National Conference, the entire Kargil unit in the Union Territory of Ladakh has announced mass resignations following disagreements over the choice of candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The decision was conveyed to party president Farooq Abdullah in a letter by Additional General Secretary of Ladakh, Qamar Ali Akhoon. Speaking to reporters, Akhoon revealed that the unit’s resignation stemmed from pressure exerted by the party’s high command to support the official Congress candidate from Ladakh. However, this move contradicts the decision made by the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which has nominated Haji Haneefa Jan as its candidate.
Ladakh with a voter base of more than 1.82 lakh, is scheduled to go to polls in the fifth phase of elections on May 20. The deadline for withdrawal of candidature is May 6.
Earlier on Saturday, nominations of two covering candidates and an Independent were rejected during scrutiny of papers, according to the Returning Officer.
With these rejections, only five candidates remain in contention for the upcoming elections, confirmed Santosh Sukhadeve, the Returning Officer.
Following the scrutiny process, nomination forms of five candidates were deemed valid, while the covering candidates of BJP and Congress, Stanzin Lakpa and Smanla Dorje Nurboo respectively, faced cancellation.
Additionally, the nomination of Independent candidate Ghulam Nabi Zia was rejected due to an incomplete form, as said by Sukhadeve in an update to PTI.
Among the five remaining candidates, BJP’s Tashi Gyalson and Congress’s Tsering Namgyal hail from Leh. Meanwhile, the three Independent candidates, Mohmad Haneefa Jan, Sajjad Hussain, and Kacho Mohd Feroz, all represent Kargil.
In 2014, Thupstan Chhewang secured the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat for the BJP for the first time.
(With inputs from agencies)
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