BJP fields Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Leh Council CEC for Ladakh seat

The BJP on Friday sprung a surprise in the Ladakh region by fielding the Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, and young leader Jamyang Tsering Namgyal as its candidate for the Lok Sabha poll.

The move, however, did not go down well with the cadre as senior leaders from Ladakh have vent their anger against the BJP high command for fielding a “novice” leader as candidate for the seat, which the party had held for the first time during the 2014 poll.

Sources said the BJP had finalised a panel of two candidates, incumbent MP Thupstan Chhewang, who resigned from the BJP and Parliament on November 14 last year, and sitting MLC Chering Dorjay.

“As the BJP failed to placate Chhewang, who refused to join active politics, there were speculations that Chering will be the candidate for the seat. However, the party preferred its young leader over senior ones, causing great resentment among the Ladakh unit,” a senior BJP leader said.

Chering said, “My name was submitted twice to the Central leadership but I didn’t do ‘chamchagiri’…. I’ll consult all leaders who had proposed my name and then take a decision. Senior leaders are being sidelined by the state leadership under a well-planned conspiracy.”