With an eye on the upcoming polls to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) Leh, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has geared up to expand its footprints in Ladakh Union territory.
A source said the party recently launched its office in Leh. The source said Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP was trying to gain foothold in the region and has begun massive campaign to rope in new faces.
The party has already got a boost with joining of former IG Police Tsering Phunsong and some other prominent faces from Leh.
The source said AAP leaders were also trying to contact former BJP Leh unit President, Chering Dorjey and some other political faces who resigned from the BJP recently.
An insider said AAP was gearing up to fight the elections likely to be held in October this year. The move by the AAP to enter Ladakh comes at a time when National Conference party unit in Leh was dissolved recently after all the party leaders joined BJP. Congress and PDP are also seen out of the contest with least presence in Leh.
Talking to Greater Kashmir over phone from Leh, Phuntsog said launch of AAP in the region gives new hope to people. He said both the BJP and Congress have failed to live up to people’s expectations.
Slamming the present ruling government led by BJP for poor state of the economy in Ladakh, he said various initiatives such as demonetization and GST have created chaos in the country.
He said the party will work for welfare of people by following developmental model of Delhi. He said prime focus of the party was to understand the demands and aspirations of people of Ladakh and work to fulfill them.
“Many people are joining us. Our campaign is evoking huge response in the region and people are welcoming us. Due to COVID pandemic, we are not able to carry out the campaign and activities as planned,” he said.
He confirmed the party will fight the upcoming LAHDC elections. “After the elections we will move out to other areas of Ladakh including Kargil to set up our base. People want an alternative to BJP and Congress” Phunsong said.