New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday announced Tashi Gyalson as its candidate for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat, replacing incumbent MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal. Tashi Gyalson is the chairman-cum-chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in Leh.
Namgyal had hit the headlines in 2019 with his viral speech in Lok Sabha to defend the Narendra Modi government's decision to repeal Article 370 and make Ladakh a separate Union territory. The BJP's decision to drop Namgyal comes amid resentment towards the ruling party among a section of Buddhists in Leh, news agency PTI reported.
Local sources were quoted as saying that Gyalson, who is also a lawyer, is in a better position to maintain the BJP's hold over the seat, which also includes Muslim-majority Kargil. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal defeated Independent candidate Sajjad Hussain by a margin of 10,930 votes.
As Ladakh gears up for the May 20 election, the Congress is yet to announce its candidate for the seat.
Ladakh is the only Lok Sabha constituency of the Union territory.
NC, Congress To Each Contest 3 LS Seats In J-K And Ladakh
For Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the National Conference and the Congress have finalised a seat-sharing agreement. According to NC leader Omar Abdullah, both parties will contest three Lok Sabha seats each.
Chaudhary Lal Singh has been nominated by the NC for the Udhampur constituency, while Raman Bhalla will represent the Congress in Jammu. Mian Altaf Sahib is slated to contest from Anantnag-Rajouri, with candidates for the remaining seats yet to be announced, PTI reported.
General elections are being held in India from 19 April to 1 June 2024 in seven phases. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on 4 June 2024.