Jammu, Aug 28: A Rajya Sabha member and two other National Conference leaders in Ladakh region today resigned from the party and joined the newly formed Ladakh Union Territory Front.

MP Koshak Thiksey and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council members Rigzin Namgayal and Tizing Thiksey resigned from NC to join the Ladakh Front, LUTF leader T Samphuel told a news agency over phone from Leh. Earlier, T Namgyal, a minister of state in the NC government, and some office bearers of the party had joined LUTF.

On Aug 25, all political parties of the Ladakh region, including NC and Congress, dissolved their local units to form LUTF to fight for union territory status for the region.

Former minister P Namgyal of Congress and some of the party's office bearers also joined LUTF, he said. Meanwhile, Hawang Jora today became the first LUTF candidate to file nomination papers from Leh constituency.

Former minister Pintoo Nurboo will file his papers for Nubra constituency tomorrow, Samphuel said.

He said a LUTF team has been sent to Kargil district to garner support for its cause there.

Bureau Report