Kargil migrant voters flood back as discontent is palpable

Kargil's migrant population of over 6,000 students and professionals returned to vote in record numbers (78%) in the LAHDC-K polls, 8% higher than 2018. Families like Muzaffar Ali's from Kaksar village, with 23 eligible members, and Muhammad Hamza, a tour operator in New Delhi, rushed back to cast their votes. 7,000 students from Kargil study outside Ladakh due to lack of job opportunities and professional colleges. NC arranged hundreds of buses to bring back 65-70% of the student community. Fida Hussian delayed his father's hospital admission to vote. The polls are a direct contest between BJP and NC-Congress. 65,878 eligible voters.

The return of Kargil’s migrant population, comprising over 6,000 students and hundreds of professionals, for elections, spiked voter turnout to a record 78% in the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil (LAHDC-K) polls on Wednesday.

The LAHDC-K polls saw an 8% increase in voting percentage compared to 70% during the 2018 council election. This was made possible by families like that of Muzaffar Ali from Kaksar village. “My son, a soldier posted in New Delhi and my cousin, a CRPF jawan in Assam, returned to Kargil for the polls like many others in my village Kaksar,” Muzaffar Ali said. “It was an important election and they could not have missed it,” he added.

He said 60 locals, who live outside Ladakh, returned to cast their votes. “Around 23 eligible members from my family cast their votes,” Mr. Ali said.

Muhammad Hamza, a tour operator settled in New Delhi with his wife and kids, said he rushed back home to cast his vote. “Kargil lags on several development fronts. Despite having a tourism potential, it is yet to capitalize on it. We need a strong council to work for people. I came for polls to elect the right candidate,” Mr. Hamza said.

A significant section of Kargil either works or studies outside Ladakh due to poor job opportunities here and lack of professional colleges. Around 7,000 students from Kargil study in several colleges spread across the country, according to locals.

Ashgar Ali, a student in a college in Punjab, said he reached Jammu earlier last week. “I boarded a bus along with hundreds of other students in Jammu,” Mr. Ali said.

Party sources said hundreds of buses were arranged by the National Conference (NC) to get back at least 65-70% of the student community before the poll dates. “We did not want to leave anything to chance. The NC-Congress combine has to win maximum seats and defeat the BJP,” a senior NC leader said.