SRINAGAR: The LAHDC Kargil polls have finally conveyed that it is comfortable with traditional parties. JKNC and Congress have defeated the ruling BJP in the region and are expected to join hands to rule the LAHDC for the next five years.
Of the 26 seats, so far, JK National Conference has won 12, Congress ten, two each were taken by BJP and independents.
The outcome of the results is important because it is the first election in any part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir after the August 5, 2019 decision making bifurcated it into two federally controlled Union Territories and binning the special status that the region enjoyed since 1947.
“Thank You, Kargil,” Omar Abdullah, the JKNC vice president wrote on Twitter (X). He was the party’s senior leader who toured the area and fought a fierce battle to retain the party symbol, plough that the administration was so keen to erase from the high-altitude political space. It was eventually the judiciary that reprimanded the administration and retained NC’s right to use the symbol.
Though hugely polled, the JKNC fell short of the expectations. It had earlier indicated that it may be in a position to manage the LAHDC on its own, as it did in the last term of five years. In the 2018 election, JKNC won 10 seats and Congress 8. PDP had garnered two seats and BJP one while there were five independents. Initially, NC and Congress shared power in the Council but later NC formed its Council with independents. PDP candidates switched over to BJP along with four nominated councillors gave the right-wing party seven seats but no power. Still, NC’s performance is better than 2018.
“The stellar performance of NC-INC in LAHDC-Kargil polls has exposed in no uncertain terms the BJP’s false narrative of development following the abrogation of article 370 and split of J&K,” Communist lawmaker and PAGD spokesman, Yousuf Tarigami said. “The people of Ladakh have already voiced their disconnect and displeasure over the policies of the current dispensation towards the region.”
The BJP propaganda & spin of J&K’s prosperity after dissolution of the State is laid to rest by the people of Ladakh & Kargil.
Congratulations NC & INC.https://t.co/vxuoflXr4p— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) October 8, 2023
“Heartening to see secular parties like NC & Congress register their victory in Kargil,” Mehbooba Mufti, whose party did not field any candidates in the region said. Its winners in 2018 joined BJP. “Its the first election post-2019 & people of Ladakh have spoken.”
“I am delighted over the Congress Party’s victory in Kargil Hill Development Council elections. The credit indeed goes to Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji and Congress leadership in Kargil, who really worked hard to ensure this comfortable victory despite the countless challenges and conspiracies. The malicious propaganda and diversionary tactics coupled with divide and rule policies of BJP stands exposed and defeated by the people’s verdict,” Vikar Rasool, the Congress’s Jammu and Kashmir president said. “Heartiest Congratulations to Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji and Kargil Congress Leadership for the victory.”
Congress’s Delhi office bearers, however, gave credit to the alliance at the local level. “We have registered a resounding victory in the Ladakh-Kargil Autonomous Hill Council elections after 10 years! Along with our INDIA partner National Conference, we have swept the entire region in its first election after the abrogation of Art. 370,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said. “Sh. @RahulGandhi ji’s Bharat Jodo Yatra last month across the region has given people of Ladakh and Kargil the faith that the Congress and INDIA have a deep concern about the issues they face, and the need for their democratic sentiments to be given a voice.”
While all the parties are insisting that the Kargil verdict was a defeat to BJP, the facts are otherwise. In 2018, the party won just one seat and in 2023, it has won two berths. It ended up runner-up at various places as well.
The district voted in huge numbers early this week. It recorded a 77.61 per cent polling with 74,026 of the 95,388 voters exercising their rights. In certain areas, the poll participation reached a historic high of more than 90 per cent. The 30-member LAHDC has 26 seats getting directly elected as the remaining four are nominated by the administration with full voting rights. Any party having 16 berths is the kingmaker.
Within the next two days, the council will be in place. Congress and NC have already an understanding to join hands post-poll. They actually contested against each other in almost all segments. The NC had fielded 17 candidates and Congress 22. BJP had also contested 17 seats.
Later, Omar Abdullah posted a long statement on his Twitter, which is reproduced here: “The BJP was dealt a resounding defeat at the hands of the NC-Congress alliance in Kargil today. 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.
I am delighted over the Congress Party’s victory in Kargil Hill Development Council elections. The credit indeed goes to Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji and Congress leadership in Kargil, who really worked hard to ensure this comfortable victory despite the countless challenges and… pic.twitter.com/LIoGKTRgL6
— Vikar Rasool Wani (@vikar_rasool) October 8, 2023
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.
We also take this opportunity to extend our sincere appreciation to our dedicated party workers who toiled day and night, persevering through challenging conditions, to ensure that on the day of reckoning, the JKNC flag would soar high.
JKNC remains committed to the principles of democracy, justice, and unity, working tirelessly to uphold the rights and aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
