As Ladakh council term nears end, uncertainty looms over elections

With the five-year term of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, set to expire later this month, uncertainty surrounds the conduct of fresh elections—especially in the aftermath of last week’s violent unrest in the region, which left four people dead and nearly 100 injured.

In the last LAHDC elections held in 2020, the Ladakh administration issued the notification on September 18, with voting on October 16, and the newly elected councillors taking oath on October 31. However, with just weeks remaining in the current term, the Union Territory administration has yet to make any announcement regarding this year’s poll schedule.

Amid the prevailing tension and security curbs following the September 24 violence, many believe the elections are likely to be delayed.

“If we look at the 2020 elections, the notification had already been issued in September and voting was completed in October. So far, nothing has happened this time,” said Ishey Namgyal, general secretary of the influential Ladakh Buddhist Association, in a conversation with The Tribune.

Namgyal cited two major reasons for the expected delay: The prevailing public sentiment post-violence and possible political calculations, particularly by the BJP, which may prefer postponing polls given the current unrest.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 and Ladakh’s transition to a Union Territory in 2019, the Hill Development Councils in Leh and Kargil have become critical platforms for elected representation, as Ladakh lacks its own legislature. The region also has just one Lok Sabha seat.

In the 2020 LAHDC Leh elections, the BJP secured 15 of 26 seats, Congress won 9, and independents claimed 2. In contrast, elections to the Kargil Hill Council were held in October 2023.

Locals in Leh say the recent violence has left the community emotionally distressed, compounding the challenges of holding elections. “In the present situation, holding elections will be extremely difficult. There’s significant resentment toward the BJP, and at the same time, there are trust issues with Congress,” said Gelek Phunchok, a member of the Leh Apex Body, one of the two key groups leading the ongoing movement demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.

The violence erupted during a hunger strike led by noted climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, when protesters—mostly youth—allegedly torched the BJP office, the Leh Hill Council building, and several vehicles. Security forces responded with gunfire, leading to the deaths. Schools (up to Class VIII) and public transport resumed in Leh district on Friday, but tensions remain.

Adding to the complexities is the pending restructuring of Ladakh’s administrative boundaries. The Ministry of Home Affairs last year approved the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, increasing the total to seven—including Leh and Kargil. However, these new districts are yet to be operationalised on the ground.

“Five new districts have been announced, but there is no clarity on their implementation. It’s also unclear whether LAHDC will continue in its current form after the new districts are added,” an official told The Tribune.

Another unresolved issue is the implementation of 33% reservation for women in both Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils. No official order has been issued so far, and locals say clarity is lacking on which constituencies will be reserved, potentially causing further delay in the election process.