Early Times Report
Jammu, May 1: Tensions flare within the INDIA bloc as discord emerges over the selection of a “consensus candidate” ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Ladakh.
A clear divide has surfaced within the opposition alliance in the Ladakh Union Territory following the joint announcement by the Kargil units of Congress and National Conference (NC) nominating Haji Hanifa Jan, a senior NC leader and former chief executive councilor, for the solitary Lok Sabha Ladakh seat.
A senior Congress leader, wishing anonymity, said that no decision has been taken so far, immediately after the formal declaration by NC and Congress leaders in Kargil regarding Hanifa Jan’s candidacy.
The distinct demographics of Leh and Kargil districts, predominantly Buddhist and Shia Muslim respectively, underscore the ideological disparity between the two regions, often reflected in voting patterns during parliamentary elections.
While the leadership in Kargil emphasizes Hanifa Jan's candidacy as the agreed consensus candidate backed by both parties, Qamar Ali Akhoon of NC suggested that the possibility of fielding Hanifa Jan as an independent candidate supported by both parties in Kargil if opposition arises from the Leh unit.
Remarkably, the formal endorsement from the Congress high command for Hanifa Jan's candidacy as the consensus candidate is pending, indicating potential rifts within the party's leadership.
Allegations surface that the Congress leadership in Kargil unilaterally accepted the NC's proposal without consulting counterparts in the Leh district, further complicating the decision-making process.
The NC and Congress, coalition partners in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, are expected to contest three Parliamentary seats each in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing agreement.
Pressure mounts from the Ladakh NC unit urging Congress to nominate a joint candidate from Kargil district to prevent vote division, prompting numerous discussions between NC and Congress leaders in pursuit of consensus.
With the nomination filing deadline on May 3 and withdrawal deadline on May 6, the electoral dynamics in Ladakh intensify as the May 20 polling date approaches. |
