The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on tour to Ladakh Union Territory, is scheduled to address a public rally in Kargil on Friday.

The rally is expected to boost support for the joint alliance of Congress and National Conference in elections for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil. The Gandhi scion arrived in Leh on Thursday last week and has been there since then.

As per the news agency KNO, Rahul Gandhi reached back to Leh from Nubra Valley on Monday and visited the main market during which he was surrounded by a large gathering of locals. He talked to people, street vendors and others there and got many requests for selfies.

Congress party sources said that Gandhi is scheduled to leave for Kargil to meet leadership there. On August 25, he is scheduled to address a public rally alongside the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, they added.

The election campaign for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil is underway and the union territory is expected to witness a direct contest between National Conference-Congress alliance and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). All three parties have announced their candidates.

In Kargil, party sources said that Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to interact with the youth on the evening of August 24.

Haji Hanifa Jan, President of District Unit Kargil said Gandhi’s visit to the region is going to benefit their alliance. "Everyone is very excited and thrilled to hear Rahul Gandhi speak in Kargil. It will definitely help us in the LAHDC elections. We are truly thrilled to have him here. Both INC and NC will gather here to listen to him," he said.

He said that preparations are underway for the elections. “Tomorrow is the last day for nominations. After that, candidates will be visiting their constituencies.”

LEH — The Congress on Saturday retained Temisgam seat in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh by defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to details available with the news agency KNO, Tashi Tundup of Congress defeated BJP’s Dorjay Namgayal by 273 votes in the by-election which was necessitated after the death of a Congress councillor. While Tashi polled 861 votes, BJP’s nominee secured 588 votes.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command has congratulated its Leh unit on the victory and took potshots at former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who recently resigned from the party.

“Here is some breaking news for Modi, Shah and Azad. The Congress party has defeated the BJP by a convincing margin in the Temisgam bye-election to the Ladakh Hill Council. Congratulations to the Ladakh District Congress Committee!,” Jairam Ramesh of the Congress tweeted.

KARGIL — Under the direction of BJP Ladakh President Phunchok Stanzin, six BJP Councillors of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil have withdrawn support from NC leader Feroz Khan-led LAHDC.

BJP Ladakh President Phunchok Stanzin told news agency Kashmir News Trust that the decision was taken after a thorough discussion with all the stakeholders and BJP executive members and functionaries.

LAHDC Kargil was jointly running with the BJP-NC alliance led by National Conference leader Feroz Khan.

The reason behind withdrawing the support from NC as per Phunchok Stanzin was the lackadaisical approach of LAHDC Kargil under the council that, according to him, is not serving its constitutional responsibilities.

He said the allotted funds for the purpose of public welfare were also not translated in a transparent and accountable manner. “The influence of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is also not favouring public welfare as such, instead JKNC is resorting to vendetta politics which ultimately creates mistrust between the public and LAHDC-Kargil,” Stanzin alleged.

He added that the work ethics of LAHDC-Kargil Councilors are also not appropriate for grassroots democracy and Constitutional responsibilities.

The six BJP members who withdrew support from National Conference are Mohsin Ali (Councillor - Chiktan), Stanzin Lakpa (Councillor - Cha) Muhammad Ali Chandan (Councillor - Shargole) Padma Dorjey (Councillor - Nominated) Leela Bano (Councillor - Nominated) Stanzin Chosgyal (Councillor - Nominated) and Zainab Bee (Councillor - Nominated).