68% turnout in four seat of Ladakh region

The four seats of the Ladakh region recorded 68% turnout, a drop of 2% drop from the 2008 assembly elections, in the first phase of the assembly elections. In Kargil, 60% people cast their vote, a fall of 15% from the last elections, the highest drop in anyone the 15 constituencies that went to polls on Tuesday.

The four seats of the Ladakh region recorded 68% turnout, a drop of 2% drop from the 2008 assembly elections, in the first phase of the assembly elections. In Kargil, 60% people cast their vote, a fall of 15% from the last elections, the highest drop in anyone the 15 constituencies that went to polls on Tuesday.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party had not won any assembly seat from here in the 2008 assembly elections. The National Conference had won three and Congress from the Leh where it is locked in a tough fight with the BJP.

The Leh, with 66% turnout, recorded 5% increase as compared to the last polls. Congress candidate, an incumbent minister, Nawang Rigzin Jora is contesting against BJP's Chhering Dorjay. The BJP had won the Ladakh parliamentary seat by a margin of just 36 votes.

In Kargil, where the BJP has invested heavily, the real fight is likely between the NC, PDP and Congress. The socio-religious organisations, whose support is important to contestants, has Anjuman-Sahib-Zaman, an influential religious organisation in Zanskar, supporting the Independent candidate, whom the NC is also backing.

In Kargil, Islamia school is supporting People's Democratic Party candidate Haji Inayat Ali, while Khomeni Trust is supporting Congress candidate Asghar Karblaie.

Kargil, with two seats, is the only Shia-majority district of the state, while in Leh Buddhists are in majority.