Kargil Elections 2023: The National Conference and Congress have together won 17 seats so far in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil election. Counting of votes is still underway.

Of the 26 seats, results of 20 seats have been declared so far. The National Conference (NC) has so far won nine seats while its ally the Congress registered victory in eight. The BJP has won two seats, while an Independent candidate has registered victory on one seat.

The counting of votes began on Sunday morning at 8 AM in Kargil for the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil election, which was held on October 4. This was the first poll in Kargil since the abrogation of Article 370 and the creation of Ladakh union territory by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

The October 4 polls saw a triangular contest among the National Conference, Congress and the BJP in most of the 26 seats, with a voter turnout of 77.61 per cent. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used for the first time for the council elections which took place at 278 polling stations across the district.

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The existing council headed by NC’s Feroz Ahmad Khan completed its five-year term on October 1. The new council will be in place before October 11. The council has 30 seats out of which elections were held on 26 seats, while four councillors with voting rights are nominated by the administration.

The NC and Congress had announced a pre-poll alliance but have put up 17 and 22 candidates, respectively. Both parties said the arrangement was restricted to areas where there was a tough contest with the BJP.

The BJP, which won one seat in the last election and later took its tally to three with the joining of two PDP councillors, had fielded 17 candidates this time.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tried its luck from four seats while 25 independents were also in the fray.

The LAHDC-Kargil election was rescheduled from September 10 to October 4 on the directions of the Supreme Court which took serious note of the UT administration denying the “plough” symbol to Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC). Holding that the JKNC was entitled to its symbol, the Supreme Court dismissed the Ladakh administration’s plea on the issue and also imposed a cost of Rs one lakh on it.

(With PTI inputs)