Democracy in Action: Kargil’s Inaugural Civic Election Records Impressive 77.61% Voter Participation
Kargil, 04-10-2023 : In a significant democratic exercise, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council- Kargil (LAHDC-K) witnessed robust participation in its elections, with an impressive and nearly 78 percent of the electorate turning out to cast their votes. The enthusiastic response from the voters, including women, was evident as long queues formed outside polling stations across the district.
This election holds historical significance as it marks the first-ever civic elections in Kargil district following Ladakh’s transformation into a separate Union territory on August 5, 2019, when it was separated from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The electoral battleground featured the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) facing a united opposition comprising the Congress and the National Conference (NC) on 26 out of the 30 seats of the Council. A total of 85 candidates vied for these positions, with the Congress fielding 22 candidates, the NC presenting 17 candidates, the BJP with 17 candidates, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with four candidates, and an additional 24 Independent candidates seeking election.
It is noteworthy that in previous Hill council polls, the NC and Congress were known as bitter rivals. However, this time, the two parties formed a pre-poll alliance, potentially influencing the election results in their favor, as observed by political analysts in Kargil.
The next phase of this democratic process will involve the counting of votes, scheduled for October 8. Following this, the new Hill council in Kargil will be established before October 11, shaping the region’s local governance for the coming years.
The LAHDC-K election witnessed the participation of over 95,000 registered voters, of whom an impressive 74,026 exercised their franchise. The polling commenced promptly at 8 am and saw active voter engagement in Kargil district.
Notably, the Saliskut constituency recorded the highest voter turnout, with an impressive 90.07 percent participation, followed closely by Gund Manglapur, which registered an 84.33 percent turnout.
One remarkable aspect of this election is the absence of any reports of violence during the polling process, demonstrating the commitment of the electorate to exercise their democratic rights peacefully and responsibly.
