Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 5: Nine seats will witness triangular and five direct contest in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh elections, which were scheduled to be held on October 17 while BJP and PDP, the two coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir Government, were pitted against each other in six constituencies. Korzok is the constituency with highest number of six candidates while five segments have two candidates each. The Council has total of 26 seats.
Official sources told the Excelsior that BJP and PDP, though being the Alliance partners in the State Government, their candidates will be facing each other in six segments of the Leh Council elections and leaders of both the parties will be campaigning for their respective candidates.
Six segments, where PDP and BJP candidates were facing each other, included Hunder, where Kunzang Lotus (BJP) and Thukjay Rabgies (PDP) were in the fray apart from Chhewang Sangdup (Congress) and Nawang Dolker (NC). An Independent Tsewang Rigzen is also in the contest. Korzok is another such segment where Chemat Dorjay (BJP) will be facing PDP nominee Dorjay Angdus in addition to Gurmat Dorjay (Congress) and Skarma Namdok (NC) apart from two Independents. Korzok has highest number of six candidates in the fray.
Chuchot segment will also be witnessing PDP-BJP fight with Mumtaz Hussain (BJP) and Liyakat Ali (PDP) in the race in addition to Ghulam Syedin (Congress), Mohammad Baqir (NC) and Stanzin Dolma (Independent).
Lower Leh is another segment where both PDP and BJP have put up their candidates. While BJP has fielded Dorjey Angchuk, the PDP had nominated Rinchen Lhamo. Lower Leh is among the prestigious constituencies as sitting LAHDC Leh Chief Executive Councilor Rigzin Spalbar is seeking fifth straight term from the seat on Congress mandate. He has never lost the election from this seat since the Council was set up in 1995. P Wangdan (NC) and Chiltim Dorjey (Independent) were the other candidates in fray from Lower Leh.
Phyang will also be witnessing PDP, BJP contest with Punchok Dorjey (BJP) and Sonam Dorjey (PDP) in the fray along with Tsering Gyatsi (Congress) and Padma Lhadol (Independent). Skurbuch is the sixth segment, where PDP and BJP were fighting each other. BJP has fielded Punchok Stanzin and PDP Tsewang Galson. Stanzin Norfel of Congress and Skarma Chozin, an Independent were also in the race.
There are five constituencies in the Council, which will have direct contest between two candidates. While four seats will have direct fight between BJP and Congress, another will have straight contest between PDP and Congress.
Chushul segment, falling close to Sino-Indian border, will be witnessing straight contest between BJP (Kunchok Stanzen) and Congress (Namgail Punchok). Martsela will also see a straight contest between BJP (Tsering Namgyal) and Congress (Tsering Angdu).
Regzing Lundup (BJP) and Rigzin Wangdus (Congress) were also involved in direct contest at Tegar while Tsering Norboo (Congress) and Sonam Murup (BJP) will face each other in Basgo. Tashi Dorjai (PDP) and Sonam Dorje (Congress) will be locked in direct contest at Lingshed.
Nine segments will witness triangular fight.
They included Diskit, where Stanzin Zatsal (BJP) and two Independent candidates Tsering Angchuk and Tsewang Rigzen were in the fray. Congress has not fielded any candidates in Diskit. Tangtse will also see triangular contest among Tashi Namgyal (BJP), Chhemet Dorjey (Congress) and Konchok Norgay (Independent).
Kungyam is also set for triangular contest among Phunchok Sonam (Congress), Dorjey Motup (BJP) and Skalzang Wangail (Independent). Tashi Norbu (Congress), Tsering Paldan (BJP) and Konchok Gyaltsan (Independent) were involved in triangular contest at Igoo while Ishey Namgyal (Congress), Lobzang Nayantak (BJP) and Skarma Tokdan (Independent) were locked in triangular fight for Upper Leh seat.
Sku Mari will see another three-cornered contest among Tsering Puntsog (Congress), Sonam Norbu (BJP) and Tashi Gonboo (Independent). While BJP’s Tsering Morup, Congress nominee Sonam Dorjay and Dorjai Namgial (Independent) will witness triangular fight for Temisgam seat.
In Khaltsi, Lobzang Sherab (BJP), Norboo Galchan (Congress) and Sonam Wangchuk (Independent) were locked in triangular fight. In Lamayur also, Tsewang Gonbo (BJP), Morup Dorjey (Congress) and Morup Dorjey (Independent) will be fighting it out.
BJP and Congress were contesting 25 seats each out of a total of 26. BJP hasn’t fielded any candidate at Lingshed while Congress has not put up any nominee at Diskit.
PDP and NC were contesting eight seats each while rest of the candidates were Independents. A total of 90 candidates were in fray f or October 17 elections. Counting will be held on October 23.
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