Ladakh Hill Council Polls on 4 December: Kargil Shuts in Protest

The Ladakh administration on Tuesday fixed 4 December as the polling date for the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils, covering 100 constituencies, while Kargil observed a complete shutdown against holding the vote in winter. A State Election Commission, Ladakh notification set the schedule, and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Leh Apex Body want the elections pushed to after the cold months, according to reports by PTI, ETV Bharat and Millennium Post.

Snow, Migration and Closed Roads

Ladakh MP Haneefa wrote to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena asking him to defer the polls. His letter cited heavy snowfall, sub-zero temperatures, road closures and the seasonal movement of residents and students, with logistics a particular worry in Drass, Zanskar and Changthang. KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said 20 to 30 per cent of Ladakh’s population migrates in winter. Leh Apex Body leader Chering Dorjay Lakrook asked for the vote to be held in April-May.

The Kargil shutdown ran until 5 pm. Medical facilities, water supply and school buses were exempted, and police were deployed. The KDA has also announced a candlelight march under a “Save Democracy” banner.

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The Delimitation Dispute Behind the Shutdown

Protesters object to the delimitation of the 100 constituencies and the way seats were shared among areas. The administration has also approved 33 per cent reservation for women. Kargili said the process lacked public consultation and that the administration issues orders without taking people into confidence. “The conspiracy is being made to snatch our land from us,” he said.

In Leh, the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Gonpa Association back a proposed boycott, ETV Bharat reported. Talks between the Union Home Ministry and the Leh Apex Body and KDA over constitutional safeguards have stalled. More Ladakh coverage is on the IPB News Ladakh page.

Nominations Close on 17 November

Nominations can be filed until 17 November. Scrutiny is on 18 November, and candidates can withdraw until 3 pm on 20 November. Polling, if required, will run from 8 am to 5 pm on 4 December, and the whole process is due to finish by 8 December. Panchayat and municipal elections in the Union Territory are scheduled for 21 November. The notification does not give a results date, Lakrook noted, and no response from the administration to the demand for a delay had been reported by Wednesday afternoon.

Source: Based on reporting by Kashmir Observer (PTI), ETV Bharat and Millennium Post.

Image: Reuters (file photo).