'Watershed moment': Ladakh announces elections to 8 hill development councils on Dec 4
SRINAGAR: As anticipated by political and religious bodies in Ladakh, the region’s State Election Commission on Tuesday announced elections for the eight autonomous hill development councils in the Union Territory, with polling scheduled for December 4.
The announcement for Ladakh Panchayat election and Municipal bodies was made earlier and they are scheduled to be held on November 21.
Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra described LAHDCs polls as a watershed moment and turning point for Ladakh democracy .
“I personally feel that this is a watershed moment for Ladakh and democracy in Ladakh. It's a turning point. And I think it is a crucial inflection in the larger journey of democracy,” Kundra said addressing a press conference in Leh after the SEC issued election notification.
With Kargil district observing shutdown today on the call of political groups against holding polls in winters and political bodies in Leh threatening boycott over holding polls in winters, Kundra said people should participate in the polls and demonstrate that they are for democracy.
Defending the timing of the December 4 polls, he said schools remain open in Ladakh till December 15.
“If children can go to school during this period, I don't think there should be any difficulty for adults to come out and vote,” he said.
He said deputy commissioners have been instructed to ensure adequate facilities at polling stations, particularly for elderly voters.
“We have assured that all deputy commissioners have been instructed to provide necessary facilities at polling stations. Heaters will also be provided and separate queues will be arranged for elderly voters so that they do not face any inconvenience,” he said.
According to the SEC schedule, November 17 will be the last date for filing nominations of the LAHDC polls. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 18.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 20, with the deadline set at 3pm.
The notification says polls will be held on December 4 between 8am and 5pm. The election process will be completed by December 8.
The results of Panchayat and Municipal polls will be announced on December 8 along with the hill council results.
On October 20, Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu, paving the way for the creation of LAHDCs in all eight districts of the Union Territory including the newly created Sankoo district.
Ladakh had earlier two hill councils-one each in Leh and Kargil.
As Kargil district observed a complete strike, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said, “what we are seeing is continuous flow of orders and notifications by the UT government. We are witnessing bureaucracy Raj. The LAHDCs polls are being held in December when around 25 percent of the population is out of the region.”
In Leh, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) threatened to launch an agitation within the next few days.
Kundra said those who are saying “bureaucratic rule” has continued for too long in Ladakh and elections are necessary, now when polls have been announced, they are opposing the move. “Let the panchayats, municipal bodies and district-level institutions function,” he added.
“The elected councils will prepare next year's budget. If the elections are delayed, they may lose valuable time in the budget preparation process. The timing of the elections is very important,” he said, adding that the elected councils will have the same powers as the existing LAHDCs.
On the opposition to delimitation and the shutdown in Kargil he said, there may be some people who are unhappy with the delimitation exercise and it happens in other states also during the delimitation.
He said some people may have grievances over it but overall they have feedback that people are satisfied.
He also urged political and social leaders in Kargil and Leh to participate in the elections stating the government of India has a clear intent to strengthen democracy in Ladakh.
“I can only appeal to the leaders of Kargil and Leh to participate in these elections and demonstrate to the government of India that we want democracy and strengthened democratic institutions. Through this process and an active dialogue, we can collectively build an institution that will take shape at the apex level of the Union Territory,” he said.
The announcement for Ladakh Panchayat election and Municipal bodies was made earlier and they are scheduled to be held on November 21.
Ladakh chief secretary Ashish Kundra described LAHDCs polls as a watershed moment and turning point for Ladakh democracy .
“I personally feel that this is a watershed moment for Ladakh and democracy in Ladakh. It's a turning point. And I think it is a crucial inflection in the larger journey of democracy,” Kundra said addressing a press conference in Leh after the SEC issued election notification.
With Kargil district observing shutdown today on the call of political groups against holding polls in winters and political bodies in Leh threatening boycott over holding polls in winters, Kundra said people should participate in the polls and demonstrate that they are for democracy.
Defending the timing of the December 4 polls, he said schools remain open in Ladakh till December 15.
“If children can go to school during this period, I don't think there should be any difficulty for adults to come out and vote,” he said.
He said deputy commissioners have been instructed to ensure adequate facilities at polling stations, particularly for elderly voters.
“We have assured that all deputy commissioners have been instructed to provide necessary facilities at polling stations. Heaters will also be provided and separate queues will be arranged for elderly voters so that they do not face any inconvenience,” he said.
According to the SEC schedule, November 17 will be the last date for filing nominations of the LAHDC polls. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 18.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 20, with the deadline set at 3pm.
The notification says polls will be held on December 4 between 8am and 5pm. The election process will be completed by December 8.
The results of Panchayat and Municipal polls will be announced on December 8 along with the hill council results.
On October 20, Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena notified the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, promulgated by President Droupadi Murmu, paving the way for the creation of LAHDCs in all eight districts of the Union Territory including the newly created Sankoo district.
Ladakh had earlier two hill councils-one each in Leh and Kargil.
As Kargil district observed a complete strike, Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said, “what we are seeing is continuous flow of orders and notifications by the UT government. We are witnessing bureaucracy Raj. The LAHDCs polls are being held in December when around 25 percent of the population is out of the region.”
In Leh, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) threatened to launch an agitation within the next few days.
Kundra said those who are saying “bureaucratic rule” has continued for too long in Ladakh and elections are necessary, now when polls have been announced, they are opposing the move. “Let the panchayats, municipal bodies and district-level institutions function,” he added.
“The elected councils will prepare next year's budget. If the elections are delayed, they may lose valuable time in the budget preparation process. The timing of the elections is very important,” he said, adding that the elected councils will have the same powers as the existing LAHDCs.
On the opposition to delimitation and the shutdown in Kargil he said, there may be some people who are unhappy with the delimitation exercise and it happens in other states also during the delimitation.
He said some people may have grievances over it but overall they have feedback that people are satisfied.
He also urged political and social leaders in Kargil and Leh to participate in the elections stating the government of India has a clear intent to strengthen democracy in Ladakh.
“I can only appeal to the leaders of Kargil and Leh to participate in these elections and demonstrate to the government of India that we want democracy and strengthened democratic institutions. Through this process and an active dialogue, we can collectively build an institution that will take shape at the apex level of the Union Territory,” he said.
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