The Ladakh administration on Tuesday announced the schedule for the Ladakh Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections, with the polling to be held on December 4 and the entire process concluding by December 8. However, the announcement triggered a political backlash across the region, including a complete shutdown in Kargil town and an election boycott by Leh bodies.
State election commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey announced the timeline under Rule 12 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Rules), 2026. The notification mentions that the election process would be completed by December 8 but doesn’t not specify the date of declaration of results. The Ladakh administration on November 5 had notified the delimitation of 100 constituencies of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC) in eight districts, specifying the panchayat areas and villages or wards falling under each constituency. LBA president Chering Dorjay Lakrook, who also heads the Leh Apex Body (LAB), cited dissatisfaction with the newly finalised 100-constituency delimitation process, unfulfilled promises regarding liquor policy reforms following protests by women’s groups, and a lack of faith in the administration’s sincerity. Jan warned that sub-zero temperatures (ranging from -20°C to -25°C), heavy snowfall, road blockages, and seasonal migration of senior citizens, traders, and students to warmer regions like Jammu, Srinagar, and Delhi risked disenfranchising a large portion of the electorate.
The notification applies across all eight newly configured districts of the UT—comprising Leh and Kargil as well as the newly created council divisions of Drass, Zanskar, Sankoo, Sham, Nubra and Changthang. The move was aimed at paving the way for elections in the region. Organised by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) —an umbrella group of political, religious, trade, and civil society organisations—the shutdown exempted medical facilities, water supply, and school buses. Last week, Ladakh Lok Sabha MP Mohmad Haneefa Jan wrote to lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, urging a postponement of all local body and council polls to spring (April-May).
The KDA also scheduled an evening “Save Democracy” candle light march against the timing of the elections, alleged delimitation irregularities, and what they termed the erosion of democratic rights.
