The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are currently leading the agitation for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status, said on Monday that they are considering fielding a joint candidate for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat.
In the wake of recent political events it seems highly unlikely that the BJP, given the sentiments of the locals against the party, can manage to pull off a victory in the polls.
Ladakhis are not happy with the BJP, as climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had said during his hunger strike. “We the people of India have the power to replace the existing setup,” he had said.
There is not clarity yet on the candidate LAB and KDA choose should they decide to join forces and contest together and the banner under which their candidate will contest.
The parties have decided to hold a meeting after Eid, as announced by Chering Dorjay Lakruk, LAB co-chairman, so what transpires is anybody's guess.
Two parties, the BJP and Congress, which have won the previous elections, have not yet officially announced their candidate for the LS seat, which will be contested in the fifth phase on May 20.
The National Conference (NC), which wields enormous influence in the Kargil area, has awarded Congress the Ladakh seat as part of its seat-sharing arrangement.
In turn, the Congress has not fielded any candidates against the NC in the Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch constituencies.
It is worth noting that LAB is the body that represents Leh district, which is dominated by Buddhists, whilst the KDA represents Kargil district, where Muslims are in majority.
In response to LAB chairman and former MP Thupstan Chhewang's absence during the agitation, Lakruk said he, too, had been unable to communicate with him and that his mobile phone had been switched off. "We were told that he had gone for treatment," he added.
Follow us
