Ladakh-Leh polls: Set to make clean sweep, says BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday put up a courageous entrance, saying the area’s persons are in its favour and it could make a clear sweep within the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Leh polls on October 22.

The polls are being held amid resentment over the BJP-led Centre’s failure in guaranteeing constitutional safety for Ladakh’s assets and cultural identification. There are calls for for the implementation of Constitution’s Sixth Schedule within the area for these safeguards. Ladakh was break up from Jammu & Kashmir and declared a Union Territory final 12 months when Constitution’s Article 370, which that offered these safeguards, was additionally nullified.

Also learn: Govt assures Ladakh’s curiosity will probably be sorted, native teams withdraw name to boycott LAHDC polls

“People are in favour of the BJP and the issue of the Sixth Schedule is over because the Apex Body of People’s Movement [ABPM] comprising older leaders recently went to Delhi, where they met [Union] home minister Amit Shah, who has given them an assurance to fulfil their demand,” mentioned LAHDC chief government councillor and BJP chief Gyal P Wangyal over the telephone. “I am very much confident that the home minister will fulfil his promise.”

Wangyal, who emphasised he was not aware of the specifics of the talks between the apex physique and Shah, mentioned he has little doubt that the BJP will win the elections beneath Ladakh Parliament member Jamyang Tsering Namgyal’s management.

Elections to the hill council are held each 5 years. The BJP has 18 seats within the outgoing 30-member council, whereas the Congress 5, and the National Conference two.

Former BJP lawmaker Thupstan Chhewang has fashioned the ABPM to hunt constitutional safeguards beneath the Sixth Schedule on the strains of north-eastern states. The umbrella group consists of political and spiritual organisations and the Ladakh Buddhist Association. It can also be searching for legislative powers for 2 councils in Leh and Kargil.

Following Shah’s assurance, the physique withdrew its name for a boycott of the council polls.

Chhewang resigned from the BJP in November 2018 over the BJP authorities’s failure in grating federal territory standing to Ladakh as per the occasion’s 2014 election manifesto.

Chering Dorjay, a member of the apex physique, mentioned after Ladakh was given the Union Territory standing with out legislature on August 5 final 12 months, the native folks needed safeguards beneath the Sixth Schedule for his or her land, jobs, language and tradition. “It still remains the sentiment of the people in Leh and therefore when high command did not heed it, I resigned in protest in May,” mentioned Dorjay.

“Within 15 day of the culmination of the hill council polls, Shah has assured to provide us safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. However, the exercise has to be preceded by the participation of the representatives elected in the polls. Further, we have to take the people of Kargil on board.”

Dorjay mentioned the Sixth Schedule will assure no settlement of outsiders. “The outsiders cannot purchase land or property in the region. That is the main concern of the people here because Ladakh region has vast swathes of barren land and they are vulnerable to outsiders, who can come and settle anywhere.”

Saturday is the final day for submitting of nominations for the 30-seat council. The scrutiny of nominations will probably be held on October 5. October 7 is the final day for withdrawal of nominations.