Leh, 18 August: Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, has decided to prolong his visit to Ladakh until August 25, as per sources. During this extended period, he plans to commemorate his late father and former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi’s birthday on August 20 at Pangong Lake.

This is Rahul’s first visit to Ladakh since the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories – Ladakh and J&K after the revocation of Article 370 and 35 (A) on August 5, 2019.

During his stay, Rahul intends to pay his respects at the Kargil Memorial and engage in conversations with the region’s young population. In addition, he will have the opportunity to relive his college days as a football enthusiast by attending a football match in Leh.

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Furthermore, he is scheduled to take part in the gathering of the 30-member Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil elections, slated for August 25.

In light of the upcoming Kargil council elections, where the Congress and National Conference have formed an alliance in opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rahul’s presence in the region holds significant political importance.

Upon his arrival in Ladakh on Thursday, he was given a warm reception by party leaders and supporters at the Leh airport. It’s worth noting that while Rahul had previously made visits to Srinagar and Jammu earlier in the year, this is his first visit to Ladakh.