| Omar's plunge into campaign not to fetch NC any gains in LAHDC polls | | Cong position dented by NLM, fissures between Jora, CEC Spalbar | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 14: In the high altitude campaign for LAHDC polls, even as former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has plunged as a last ditch effort to lend some support to the party, his presence against the campaigners of ruling regime will not fetch any gains to NC nor would his canvassing improve party's prospects in the desert region. On the contrary, Congress may spring some surprise in terms of retaining a sizable number of seats, notwithstanding the fact that party's position has been considerably dented by New Ladakh Movement as also the friction between the two local leaders Rigzin Jora and Rigzin Spalbar , Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC.
Sources said though rivals PDP and NC are contesting on only 8 seats each, actual fight between the two is on the lone seat of Turtuk, which eventually would go into PDP's kitty. Omar Abdullah arrived in Leh a day back along with a couple of party leaders-Ali Mohammad Sagar and Nasir Aslam Wani with an aim to give some tough fight to PDP, but this won't make any difference, sources said, adding that ruling PDP whose leaders including a couple of Ministers are camping in parts of Ladakh for so many days.
Sources further said the contest on many seats is tough for ruling PDP as well, yet NC is far from being a force to reckon with in the existing scenario. Pertinently, both NC and Congress like PDP and BJP have decided to contest LAHDC polls separately despite being in alliance. PDP too is trying hard to make history by registering victory on some seats but in the present scenario it looks the party will bag Turtuk, where it is in tussle with NC. Of the 26 seats, BJP and Congress have fielded their candidates in 25 segments. In eight seats where PDP is contesting, it is facing candidates from BJP in seven seats and as on date BJP has managed to have upper hand on many seats across the region, sources said, adding that the ruling party is trying to allure the voters on the basis of assurances of welfare
On the other hand, Congress is facing some crisis on account of two major factors which may affect its prospects in retaining the seats where it could have easily managed victory, sources said, adding that the newly floated party New Ladakh Movement has hit the Congress badly as a sizable number local leaders of the party have changed sides and after resigning from the party in a sudden political move came into NLM fold. Besides, the two leaders fissures have developed between the two leaders former Minister Rigzin Jora and CEC LAHDC Rigzin Spalbar on a host of issues which is also having negative fallout on party's prospects, sources said. However, the Congress which has registered victory for four consecutive terms in LAHDC polls, may still spring surprise and emerge victorious on seats on which BJP and PDP are focussing and struggling hard , sources said adding that division of votes may help the party which has a strong vote bank of its own as well, much to discomfort of ruling regime. |
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