ELLECTION IN LADAKH

Leh constituency, which is slated to go to polls in first phase on November 17 has many unique features which may find no comparison in the rest of country.
Even as this constituency boasts of the highest and farthest polling booths in the country, another unique feature is that the Leh segment comprises of the most sparsely populated polling booth in the country, where the polling staff and security personnel outnumber the voters.
This unique polling station is Thukjay Gompa situated at the height of 14000 feet from the sea level and around 350 kilometres from the district headquarters of Leh.
This polling station is the second highest polling station after Anlay Fu which is situated at an altitude between15000 to 16000 feet from the sea level. Janjak polling booth has the distinction of being the farthest polling station.
According to District Election Officer (DEO), Leh, Ajit Kumar Sahu, Thukjay Gompa polling station has only 5 voters and this is the only polling station in the State which has such a lowest voters and where the polling staff and security personnel outnumber the electorates.
To reach this polling station well before the day of polling—November 17, four polling staff and equal number of security personnel will have to cover a distance of around 350 kilometres for two days, Mr Sahu said, adding in case of weather disturbances, the polling staff and security personnel will have to be airlifted to ensure that the electorates of Thukjay Gompa can exercise their right to cast votes in the Assembly elections.
Like other polling stations, the polling staff and security personnel to be deputed for Thukjay Gompa will have to stay put at the polling station for the whole day even if all the five electorates exercise their right to franchise within minutes of beginning of polling.
According to the District Election Officer, who is also District Development Commissioner, Leh, Sumdo Polling Station has second lowest voters after Thukjay Gompa. This station has 17 electorates including 8 male and 9 female.
In the tally of polling stations with lowest voters, Ullay and Demohok fall at third place with both having 23 votes each. While Demohok has 10 male and 13 female electorates, the Ullay polling station has 13 male and 10 female voters.
These polling stations are followed by Mukleb which has 30 electorates—14 male and 16 female. Out of total 183 polling stations in the Leh Assembly segment, these five polling stations have the distinction of having less electorates.
But these polling stations are receiving equal importance from the Election Department which has decided to deploy adequate polling staff and security personnel.