The BJP has made the surprising move to drop sitting MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and instead name Tashi Gyalson as its candidate for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat. Gyalson, the chairman and chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council in Leh, is expected to maintain the party's hold over the constituency, which includes the Muslim-majority region of Kargil. This decision comes amid resentment towards the ruling party among some Buddhists in Leh.
The political arena in Ladakh was rattled as the ruling party, BJP, named Tashi Gyalson as its candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This unexpected move comes as the party has decided to drop its sitting MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal. The decision has raised eyebrows, especially since Namgyal was widely praised for his passionate defense of the government's decision to repeal Article 370 in his viral Lok Sabha speech. Local sources suggest that the party is hoping Gyalson, a lawyer and the current chairman-cum-chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, will be able to maintain BJP's stronghold over the constituency which also includes the Muslim-majority region of Kargil. The voting will take place on May 20th.