Union Minister to join Tashi in filing papers today
*Cong decision on Ladakh candidate anytime now
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 30: Confusion prevailed in National Conference-Congress camp over choice of the candidate for Ladakh Parliamentary seat elections as some of the leaders have reached Delhi for discussions with the high command while, in a no political relief for the BJP, sitting MP Jamyang Tsering Namgayal today obtained nomination form from the Returning Officer as an Independent candidate notwithstanding persuasions by BJP national general secretary, Incharge J&K, Tarun Chug and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
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Rijiju who returned to New Delhi yesterday after holding talks with Namgayal is reaching Leh again tomorrow to join Tashi Gyalson, the BJP candidate, who will file nomination form in Leh. Gyalson is sitting Chairman-Cum-CEC of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh.
May 3 is last date for filing nomination papers for Ladakh seat which will go to polls in fifth phase on May 20.
Chug and Rijiju held long meetings with Namgayal, who has been visiting various areas of Ladakh constituency after being denied the party mandate to mobilize support of workers, and Tashi Gyalson, the BJP candidate for Ladakh Lok Sabha seat. There were reports that Chug and Rijiju have succeeded in persuading Namgayal not to contest as an Independent candidate and support the BJP nominee.
However, today, Namgayal’s representatives obtained nomination form for him from the Returning Officer as an Independent candidate.
Union Minister Rijiju, as per the party insiders, is again reaching Leh tomorrow to join Gyalson when he will file the nomination form as the BJP candidate for Lok Sabha election. He is expected to again hold talks with Namgayal.
Workers close to Namgayal declined to comment whether he will file nomination as an Independent candidate or not saying things will be clear in next two days.
Meanwhile, in Kargil, senior National Conference leaders continue to insist that the Congress should give mandate to NC leader from Kargil to get the party support.
Name of senior National Conference leader Haji Haneefa Jan, who is district president for Kargil, has reportedly been proposed by the NC, to the Congress. The NC leaders are of the view that Jan will contest on Congress mandate and both parties will support him to win the seat.
However, as per the party leaders, a senior Congress leader from Leh is opposed to the move and has proposed names of three sitting Councilors of Leh Hill Development Council for the party mandate.
“The Congress decision is also expected by tomorrow,” the insiders said.
NC and Congress are allies in Kargil Hill Development Council. As per seat sharing agreement between INDIA bloc, National Conference and Congress will contest three Parliamentary seats in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Ladakh seat went to the Congress much to the disappointment of NC leaders who have strong base in Kargil district. Later, the NC came out with a strange formula stating that it will be their party leader who will contest on Congress mandate and both parties will work together to ensure his success.
“While some of the Congress leaders from Kargil are supportive of the proposals, few others from district Leh are opposed to the move,” the party insiders said but added that the Congress high command will take a decision by tomorrow taking into account the party’s interests and winning prospects.
The BJP for the first time won Ladakh Parliamentary seat in 2014 with Thupstan Chhewang, the party nominee emerging victorious. In 2019, Jamyang Tsering Namgayal, who was also the Chairman-cum-CEC of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, retained the seat for the BJP. The BJP’s decision to drop Namgayal comes amid resentment towards the ruling party among a section of Buddhists in Leh.
The BJP Government at the Centre had fulfilled long pending demand of the majority people of Ladakh for grant of Union Territory status on August 5, 2019 when Article 370 was scrapped and erstwhile State was bifurcated into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh. Ladakh was earlier a region and was later made third division besides Jammu and Kashmir before being made a UT.
However, after some time, the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance started agitation demanding Sixth Schedule Status and Statehood for Ladakh besides some other demands for protection of land, culture, identity etc of the locals.
The BJP Government at the Centre has ruled out Sixth Schedule status as well as Statehood but stressed for continued dialogue with LAB and KDA. However, the two bodies of Ladakh said there was no fun of talks when their two major demands have been rejected.
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