| NC, PDP join hands in Ladakh, Cong fields proxy | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 4: Unlike Kashmir region, the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat has brought two main rivals, the National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party together, who have unanimously decided to support an Independent candidate, Sajjad Hussain in the cold desert region. At the same time, the Congress has fielded a proxy to cut the vote of Sajjad.
Four candidates are in the fray for Ladakh parliamentary constituency that will go to polls on May 6.
The Bhartiya Janta Party has fielded Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, while Rigzin Spalbar is Congress candidate. Both the candidates are from Leh district. While Sajjad Hussain, and former Congress leader Asgar Ali Karbalia are contesting as independents. Both are from Kargil district. However a source in Congress said that Asgar is proxy candidate of the Congress. "Asgar has been fielded to cut the Muslim vote so that their candidate gets the benefit," the source said.
However, the PDP and NC have decided to support journalist turned politician Sajjad in the parliamentary elections. He is the candidate of Anjuman Jamiatul Ulama Islamia School Kargil (AJUISK), the largest religious organisation of the region.
"Both National Conference and PDP have unanimously decided to support Sajjad, who has been fielded by Kargil's powerful religious organization, Islamia School," an NC leader said.
Asked why the National Conference did not field own candidate, he replied, "We have several top leaders in Ladakh. But when power religious organizations decided to field the candidate, we decided to support him. All religious groups are on platform on his candidature. We hope that he would win the elections."
A PDP leader said NC and PDP have unanimously decided to support Independent candidate, Sajad. "We decided not to field own candidate because this candidate has backing of two religious groups, and represent the sentiments of people," Bhat said.
In Kashmir, the PDP and NC have been fighting against each other as both parties have fielded own candidates on all three parliamentary seats. While the NC and Congress are jointly fighting the Srinagar, Jammu and Udhampur parliament seats while there is a "friendly" contest between their candidates for Baramulla and Anantnag seats. In 2014 Thupstan Chhewang of Bharatiya Janata Party won with a margin of 36 votes. Chhewang secured 31,111 votes while Independent GhulamRaza secured 31,075 votes. Chhewang last year resigned, citing 'discrimination' against Ladakh, as the reason.
Spread over Leh and Kargil districts and having four assembly segments including Kargil, Zanaskar, Nobra and Leh, Ladakh is geographically one of the largest and population-wise one of the smallest constituencies in the country. There are about 1.72 lakh eligible voters for the Ladakh seat. |
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