BJP elects Namgyal as Leh Council CEC

Our Correspondent

Leh, November 9

Against the backdrop of a major debacle of the party in the recently held civic elections in the Ladakh region, the BJP on Friday sprang a surprise and elected its young district party president Jamyang Tsering Namgyal as the new Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the powerful Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh.

In a special meeting, the general council elected Martselang councillor Namgyal as the new CEC and Chairman of the Leh Council unopposed. Namgyal, 34, is the youngest CEC of the Leh Council.

Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LAHDC, Leh, Avny Lavasa conducted the election.

Upper Leh councillor Ven Lobzang Yantak proposed the name of Namgyal for the post. He was supported by Skurbuchan councillor Stanzin Phunchok.

With no second candidate for the post, the CEO declared election of Namgyal to the coveted post. The general council also elected unopposed a three-time councillor from Sakti, Gyal P Wangyal, as Deputy Chairman. It is a new post which was created under the recently brought amendments to the LAHDC Act, 1995.

Former executive councillor and Saspol councillor Tsering Wangdus proposed Wangyal’s name for the post. He was supported by Phyang councillor Phunchok Dorje.

Namgyal is the third Chief Executive Councillor of the present BJP-led LAHDC in Leh.

The need for the election arose after former CEC Dorjey Motup submitted resignation to the post citing health reasons. Sources, however, claimed Motup was “forced” to resign from the post following the allegations of his fellow councillors that “the party lost civic elections in Ladakh due to failure of the LAHDC to bring overall development in the region”.

After his election, Namgyal said following his predecessor Dorjey Motup’s footsteps, he would work for integrated development of Ladakh.

Rubbishing the rumours that the party high command was interfering in the sovereignty of councillors, Leh MLC Chhering Dorje said both the candidates were chosen by the councillors.

The LAHDC has 26 elected councillors and four nominated councillors. Of these, 20 are from the BJP, six from the Congress and two each from the National Conference and PDP. BJP state president Ravinder Raina was present during the election.