National Conference and Congress alliance on Sunday swept Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil elections, winning 22 out of 26 seats.
The election is the first major poll following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the establishment of the Ladakh Union Territory. It featured a triangular battle between the NC, Congress, and BJP across the majority of the 26 seats. The NC and Congress had announced a pre-poll alliance but fielded 17 and 22 candidates, respectively. Both parties said the arrangement was restricted to areas where there was a tough contest with the BJP.
The NC bagged 12 seats, Congress got 10 seats, BJP secured 2 seats and 2 Independent candidates won after the results were announced for 26 seats.
In the 30-member LAHDC, four members were nominated by the administration while the elections for 26 seats took place on October 4.
“JKNC ends the day as the single largest party in the LAHDC Kargil polls with 12 councillors. Together with the Congress with whom we shared seats, we will have 21 or 22 councillors (1 seat is still being counted) out of 26. This is a resounding verdict against the BJP and its divisive policies. It’s also an emphatic rejection of what the Union Government did to J&K on 5th August 2019,” said Omar Abdullah, NC leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.
With the Congress winning several seats, the party said it is a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said: “The national media will blank it out, but trends coming in show Congress leading convincingly in the elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil with an almost complete wipeout of the BJP.”
“This is a direct impact of Rahul Gandhi continuing Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ladakh last month,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
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