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Religious and social institutions in Leh are caught in an uncanny situation ahead of the Lok Sabha polls on May 20.

They are now trying hard to formulate a strategy to support one of the two Buddhist candidates fielded by Congress and the BJP in the district, believing that only a Muslim candidate backed by the KDA would win the election due to vote fragmentation.

In Ladakh's lone Lok Sabha constituency, the situation has evolved into a clash between Buddhist-dominated Leh and Muslim-majority Kargil.

While two candidates, including the BJP's Tashi Gyalson and Congress' Tsering Namgyal, are running in Leh, only one independent candidate, Haji Hanifa Jan, is running in Kargil, owing to voter polarisation, which is also giving the BJP and Congress nightmares because their votes are likely to split in Leh.

Sensing the urgency, the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), a significant religious group, has begun attempts to rally residents to vote for one of Leh's two candidates.

Besides Hanifa Jan, the two independent candidates who had submitted nominations from Kargil, Kacho Mohammed Feroz and Sajad Kargil, have withdrawn their nominations, clearing the way for Jan.

"I have called a meeting of both Congress and BJP candidates to encourage one of them to withdraw from campaigning.

However, because the Congress and the BJP are national parties, their candidates cannot make independent decisions. Votes in Leh would divide in favour of two candidates, benefiting the lone Kargil contender," claimed the LBA chief.

Meanwhile, Hanifa Jan is working tirelessly to cement Kargil's vote bank. He engages with religious and social leaders and pushes them to back him.

Interestingly, Hanifa Jan is an NC leader who just resigned, along with the Kargil party unit. Kargil NC leaders defied their party's orders by supporting Congress (INDIA bloc) nominee Tsering Namgyal.

Votes in Leh will be split between the BJP's Tashi Gyalson and the Congress' Tsering Namgyal, benefiting the lone Kargil contender, Haji Hanifa Jan., Chhering Dorje Lakrook, LBA chief.