LADAKH LOK SABHA SEAT | BJP Ladakh unit sends 3 names to party high command

Ganderbal, Mar 5: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Ladakh has shortlisted a panel of three candidates for the parliamentary elections for the lone parliamentary seat of the union territory.

A senior leader of the BJP in Leh said that the BJP Ladakh unit shortlisted three candidates for the parliamentary polls and sent the names to the party's high command where the BJP’s parliamentary board would give its final approval.

Sources said that the BJP Ladakh unit shortlisted three names including the sitting Member of Parliament Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Chief Executive Councilor Tashi Gyalson, and Councillor of Cha constituency in Kargil district, Stanzin Lakpa.

The BJP recently released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Parliament polls while the second list is likely to be released this week and the name of the candidate for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat is likely to be in the list.

In the 2019 parliamentary elections, BJP leader J T Namgyal won the Lok Sabha seat of Ladakh with a margin of 10,930 votes against independent candidate Sajjad Kargili.

The Congress and National Conference are yet to take a call about the party candidates for the parliament polls from Ladakh.

Sources said that the Congress and NC units in Ladakh are waiting for the decision of the party high command on whether to go with the INDIA block or contest on their own.

With the NC and the Congress winning the LAHDC, Kargil, election together in 2023, NC is negotiating over it.

Senior NC leader, Qamar Ali Akhoon told Greater Kashmir that they had not been consulted by the party high command over this matter and were awaiting the party’s decision.

The NC held its parliamentary board meeting on Tuesday to discuss and deliberate for the upcoming Parliament elections.