Kargil, Oct 04: The 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil elections, which witnessed an extraordinary 77.61% voter turnout among the region’s 95,388 registered voters, have concluded successfully. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were employed at 278 polling stations across the Kargil district in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Vote counting is scheduled for October 8, with the newly elected council expected to assume office by October 11, shaping the future of LAHDC-Kargil.
Notably, the constituency of Saliskote stood out with an astonishing 90.7% voter turnout, making it the top-performing area with the highest participation. This remarkable figure underscores the dedication of residents to influence local governance. In contrast, the Padum constituency recorded the lowest voter turnout at 69.03%.
The overall high voter turnout reflects the deep interest of Kargil’s residents in decisions that impact their daily lives and the governance of their region. The 5th LAHDC-Kargil elections have set a notable precedent for civic engagement and democracy, sending a clear message that residents are actively invested in shaping their locality’s future.
The outgoing council, led by National Conference’s Feroz Ahmad Khan, concluded its term on October 1, paving the way for these pivotal elections.
The electoral landscape intensifies as alliance parties Congress and National Conference face off against the BJP for 26 Council seats. While most seats are contested jointly, a few friendly contests have emerged. The candidate roster includes 22 from Congress, 17 from NC, 17 from BJP, 4 from the Aam Aadmi Party, and 24 Independent candidates.
These elections, critical for local governance and regional development, boasted equal gender representation among voters, with 48,625 male and 46,762 female voters participating.
The election results will play a pivotal role in setting priorities and policies for the local administration, ushering in prosperity and growth for Kargil. Voting began at 8 am and concluded at 4 pm, with authorities implementing stringent security measures to ensure voter safety and the smooth functioning of the elections.
