KARGIL: The fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil (LAHDC-K) elections witnessed a huge turnout of over 77.61% on Wednesday, the first ever polls since Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019.

Saliskote had the highest voter turnout at 90.07%, while Padum had the lowest at 69.03%. Counting of votes is scheduled for October 8, 2023.

An electorate of 74,026, including 46,762 women, exercised their franchise at 278 Polling Stations spread over 26 constituencies across Kargil.

“Kargil recorded 77.61% Polling, which started at 8 a.m. and concluded by 4 p.m. It’s a jump from around 70% polling recorded during the 2018 council elections,” an official told The New Indian. “The EVM machines from various polling stations were brought to the strong room under the supervision of the Election Authority.”

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There are 85 candidates in the fray, with Congress fielding the highest 22 candidates, followed by 17 candidates each from the National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP is facing a tough challenge from the NC-Congress alliance. Around 25 candidates are contesting as independents.

“The BJP has failed to deliver. We want our statehood back,” said Shehnaz Ali, a 55-year-old woman who was among the many women in Kargil who came out to vote.

For the smooth conduct of the elections, the Election Authority/Deputy Commissioner/CEO LAHDC, Kargil, Shrikant Suse; DIG LKR Sheikh Junaid Mehmood; and SSP Kargil Anayat Ali Choudhary supervised the entire poll process. ADC Kargil, Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Wani, also visited various polling stations at different locations to check the progress of polling.

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Zonal/sector magistrates and police officers, returning officers along with assistant returning officers were present at different polling stations to ensure smooth conduct of polls.

To ensure transparency in the process, observers and micro-observers were deployed at polling stations. Webcasting was also done for the first time during council elections at selected polling stations.

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