Ex-MP among 3 in fray for LBA election

LBA election authority members addressing a press conference in Leh on Monday. —Excelsior/Morup Stanzin
LBA election authority members addressing a press conference in Leh on Monday. —Excelsior/Morup Stanzin

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, Jan 25: On the last day of nomination filling day today, three candidates including Ex-MP Thupstan Chhewang left in the fray for the Buddhist apex body LBA top post.
Two other candidates include former LBA vice president Rinchen Namgyal and former LBA Youth vice president Tsewang Dorjay. Thupstan Chhewang is also the prominent member of the People’s Movement for 6th Schedule for Ladakh’s `Apex body’ and he also served as LBA president from 1989 to 1995.
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Addressing a press conference here in Leh today, LBA election Returning Officer (RO), Tsering Dorjay flanked by LBA Election Authority Tsering Morup and LBA Interim president Konchok Ishey informs that three candidates are left in fray on the last day of nomination today.
RO informed that LBA first General Council Member (GCM) meeting was held on January 17, where they announced the notification of election process. He said LBA has redrafted its constitution to conduct free and fair election just like any other election to elect its new president.
He further added that election (if necessary) will be held only for the post of president and there are 396 members which includes 331 GCM members from Leh district and 65 GCM who has the voting right to elect its present. Each GCM represents 300 population from different regions of Ladakh.
RO stated that last date of candidature withdrawal is on January 27 upto 3 pm followed by scrutiny on the same day. Polling if necessary will be held on February 11, 2021 followed by counting on the same day.
LBA Interim president Konchok Ishey has appealed for free and fair election as per the new constitution of LBA. Responding to a query Konchok informed that no election was held in the history of LBA to elect its new president ever since its inception from 1934 till date. He also revealed that as per LBA new constitution, one of the vice presidents’ post is reserved for a Buddhist from district Kargil.