Kargil, May 5: Three candidates are in fray for Ladakh parliamentary seat.
Sajad Kargili opted out of election race and threw weight behind Haji Hanifa, NC leader and joint candidate of NC and Congress from Kargil.
Yesterday, during the scrutiny three nomination papers were rejected by the election authority. The last date for withdrawal of the candidature is May 6.
Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency, the largest in the country with a total area of 173.266 sq km and more than 1.82 lakh voters, will go to polls in the fifth phase of elections on May 20.
In a significant development amid to put up a united face, the prominent social-political activist from Kargil, Sajjad Hussain Kargili on Sunday announced that he will not contest the upcoming Parliament elections and will withdraw his nomination papers and support the joint candidate Haji Hanifa Jan from Kargil. The decision was taken in meeting between senior political and religious leaders including contesting candidate for Ladakh Lok Sabha seat Haji Hanifa Jan, former Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil Feroz Ahmed Khan and President Anjuman Jamiat Ulema Isna Ashriya Kargil Sheikh Nazir Mohammad. Sajjad Kargili is a member of AJUIAK and Kargil Democratic Alliance.
Announcing the decision, President AJUIAK Sheikh Nazir Mohammad said that in the larger issues interest of Ladakh particularly Kargil district and to maintain unity among people they have asked Sajjad Kargili not to contest the upcoming Parliament elections.
Reacting to the development, Sajjad Kargili said that he had authorised the president AJUIAK to decide whatever they feel good for the larger interest of Kargil, Ladakh. He said that he will withdraw his nomination papers and support joint candidate Haji Hanifa Jan and hope he comes up to the expectations of people of Ladakh.
Notably, of the three remaining candidates, BJP’s Tashi Gyalson and Congress’ Tsering Namgyal are from
Leh. Haji Haneefa Jan who has been fielded jointly by National Conference and Congress leadership of Kargil. Although the Congress has official announced the candidature of Tsering Namgayal from Leh.
Ladakh has a total number of 1, 82, 571 voters, including 91,703 male and 90,867 female voters. It is going to polls on May.