The Congress and National Conference (NC) alliance secured a historical electoral gain in the Ladakh polls, that held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 and special status to Jammu & Kashmir. The ruling BJP regime repealed the special status in 2019 and bifurcated the state into two Union territories - Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. 

The crisis-hit region, that has been facing threats from militants, was reeling with a severe disruption to normal lives, following the abrogation, as most of the services including communication were limited and the territories directly came into the control of the BJP regime. After suspending the legislature and bifurcating the state, the Modi administration had for years assured to hold elections in the region. 

While no plausible developments happened, the Ladakh region has now got a sign of hope that the people's rights to vote will be restored and that the electoral infrastructure is in the making. When the people in Ladakh voted for the local elections for the first time in four years, they delivered a huge verdict - no more trusting BJP. The saffron party had endured a huge fiasco while the Congress alliance swept a clear majority. 

The election to the 26-member Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council - Kargil was held recently and as per the voters' verdict, the Congress - NC alliance had won 22 seats, while the BJP bagged just two seats and the rest two seats were secured by independent candidates. Following the victory, the NC has described the defeat of the BJP as resounding rejection. 

The NC, which is a part of the united opposition INDIA (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance) has won 12 seats while the Congress had secured 10 seats. Had the INDIA coalition contested unitedly, the BJP could have ended up winning only one seat as the INDIA coalition lost to the BJP in one seat where they fielded candidates against each other. 

The election was held on October 4 and it recorded 77.61% voter turnout. Both the rivals had challenging campaign rounds with NC spread a message that the election is a referendum on the BJP regime's decision to revoke the Article 370 special status. The BJP, on the other hand, campaigned about the developmental initiatives carried out by the Modi government in Ladakh after 2019. 

Reacting to the voters' verdict that severely wounded the BJP's political outreach in Ladakh, National Conference vice-president and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told The Hindu, "It's a resounding rejection of the BJP's politics that saw J & K divided and downgraded, with our constitutionally guaranteed status abolished. The people of Kargil have shown that they do not support or agree with what was done to them on 5th August 2019." 

He further said, "These election results should serve as a wake-up call for the BJP. It is time to cease hiding behind the Raj Bhavan and unelected representatives and instead, acknowledge the people's rightful desire for a democractically elected government in J & K. Democracy demands the voices of the people be heard and respected." Abdullah had also expressed his gratitude to the Congress party for its unwavering support. 

How Rahul Gandhi's tour and Bharat Jodo Yatra changed course for Congress in Ladakh? 

The Congress party has bagged ten seats in the Ladakh council polls and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was instrumental in changing the party's course towards triumph in Ladakh. Rahul Gandhi had toured Ladakh ahead of the polls where he also took a bike ride in a challeging terrain and interacted with the locals, who lamented with him about their depriving standard of living in the region. 

During the campaign for the polls, the Congress party had highlighted the demands raised by the Kargil Democratic Alliance, a local grouping that's fighting for Statehood and special constitutional guarantees on protecting Ladakh's culture, land, jobs, and environment. The Congress party has also said that Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra had conferred a trust on the party. 

By crediting Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra for the victory in the polls, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said that the results will usher a new democratic dawn in Ladakh and Kargil. Taking to social media, Venugopal wrote, "We have registered a resounding victory in the Ladakh-Kargil Autonomous Hill Council elections after 10 years! Along with our INDIA partner National Conference, we have swept the entire region in its first election after the abrogation of Article 370." 

"Bharat Jodo Yatra has given the people of Ladakh and Kargil the faith that the Congress and INDIA have a deep concern about the issues they face and the need for their democratic sentiments to be given a voice. Congratulations to all victorius candidates and I am confident this will usher a new democratic dawn in Ladakh and Kargil", Venugopal added. As the previous council, that was led by the National Conference's Feroz Ahmad Khan, completed its five-year term on October 1, the election was held and the newly elected council will commence their term on or before October 11.