Counting Of Votes Begins For Ladakh Hill Council In 1st Key Poll Since Article 370 Abrogation

The Congress and the National Conference alliance defeated the BJP in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council elections in Kargil, in the first-ever poll held in J&K after Article 370 was scrapped in 2019. As the counting of the 26-seat Ladakh Council went on, Congress and the National Conference left BJP far behind. Out of the 22 seats the results of which were declared, Congress won eight seats, National Conference 11. The BJP only won 2 and one seat went to an Independent candidate.

Paramilitary personnel stand guard as Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) and Congress supporters wait outside amid the counting of votes.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said it's heartening to see secular parties like NC and the Congress win in Kargil. PDP did not contest in the election. "Heartening to see secular parties like NC and Congress register their victory in Kargil. It's the first election post-2019 and people of Ladakh have spoken," Mehbooba Mufti posted as the early trends showed a big win for the alliance.