Four BJP councillors resign from LAHDC Kargil

Kargil, Sep 7: Four BJP councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil on Monday announced their resignation from the council, citing the bifurcation of areas presently under the Kargil Hill Council, delays in passing the budget and the need for immediate delimitation followed by fresh elections.
The councillors—Stanzin Lakpa, elected councillor from Cha; Padma Dorjay, elected councillor from Stakchey Khangral; and nominated councillors Rigzin Gurmet and Lamgual Phonchock—addressed a press conference and said they had submitted their resignations to the Chief Executive Officer of LAHDC Kargil.
Explaining their decision, the councillors said the bifurcation of areas under the existing Kargil Hill Council had fundamentally altered the territorial composition of the council. They pointed out that parts of the area earlier falling under LAHDC Kargil had subsequently become part of other administrative districts, including the newly carved Sham district.
The councillors said that in these changed circumstances, continuing with the existing territorial and representative structure of the Hill Council was not appropriate.
They also raised the issue of the delay in passing the council budget, saying that the delay had caused difficulties for the people of Kargil and affected the functioning and development-related activities of the council.
The councillors called for the delimitation process to be initiated without further delay so that the constituencies of LAHDC Kargil could be redrawn in accordance with the present administrative boundaries.
They further demanded that elections to LAHDC Kargil be held immediately, saying a fresh electoral mandate was necessary after the changes in the territorial composition of the council.
The resignation announcement comes amid continuing political uncertainty within LAHDC Kargil and follows recent political developments in the Hill Council.
The councillors said their decision was driven by the changed territorial realities and the need to establish a representative council through fresh delimitation and elections.
The resignation of two elected and two nominated councillors is likely to add to the political uncertainty surrounding the Hill Council, while their demand for immediate delimitation and elections puts the administration under pressure to address the altered territorial composition of LAHDC Kargil. [KNT]