Polling for the lone, high-stake Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency in the union territory is underway.
While the BJP, which won the Lok Sabha polls in Ladakh in 2014 and 2019, has fielded Tashi Gyalson (Chairman-cum-Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Hill Development Council), the Congress has fielded Tsering Namgyal, the Opposition Leader in the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
Another candidate, Haneefa Jan, is also in the fray, contesting the polls as an Independent. Jan is the unanimous candidate of Kargil's political and religious bodies, and Kargil leaders of the National Conference and Congress have backed his candidature.
Observers believe Jan could emerge as a dark horse due to his backing from Kargil's majority Muslim voters, while both the BJP and the Congress candidates are vying for the Buddhist voters in Leh. Jan, the former Chairman-cum-CEC of Kargil Hill Council, is the ex-Kargil district NC president.
There are 298 polling stations in Leh and 279 booths in Kargil. Although Ladakh is peaceful, adequate numbers of paramilitary forces and Ladakh police have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting.
The Election Commission has deputed an election observer and expenditure observer for the constituency, and has also appointed a micro observer in each polling station in the UT. The Ladakh parliamentary constituency, which includes the Leh and Kargil segments with 1.84 lakh electorates, is known for its brisk voting. There is strong enthusiasm since this is the first parliamentary election in Ladakh after it gained UT status. However, the demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule status, led by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has overshadowed the UT status.
The BJP faces an angry electorate due to its refusal to accept the demand for Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh. The Centre has agreed to apply all provisions of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh but refused to grant the region Sixth Schedule status or statehood. Ladakh was declared a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 and the separation of Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.