LAHDC-Leh term ends, no election in sight

Kargil, Nov 2: With no election in sight after the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh has completed its five years term, the Union Territory administration of Ladakh has assigned the Deputy Commissioner Leh the task to administer its (Council's) affairs till a new Council is constituted after the elections.

An order assigning affairs of the Council to the Deputy Commissioner Leh was issued by the Department of Law and Justice, Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Ladakh union territory administration was supposed to issue an election notification in September to hold elections for the Hill Council in October and complete the process by November 1.

However, the UT administration of Ladakh has cited creation of new districts and reservation of one-third seats in the Council for women as the reasons for delay in holding elections to the LAHDC Leh, which was ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“In view of the ongoing process for creation of new districts and consequent need for drawing boundaries of Council areas and constituencies and need for implementation of the amendment to Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, providing one-third reservation for women in the LAHDCs, holding elections to constitute a new LAHDC Leh, is not practicable at this stage, as it would lead to representational anomalies and administrative inconsistencies,” the order issued by Department of Law and Justice order read.

It said that for effective discharge of functions, Romil Singh Donk, the Deputy Commissioner Leh, would “administer the affairs of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, with effect from October 31, 2025 until a new Council is constituted following fresh elections.”

Both Leh and Kargil Hill Development Councils have 30 seats each. Of them, elections are held for 26 seats while four Councillors are nominated by the UT administration.

Elections were held in October 2020 for the 26 seats of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh. It was also the first election after Ladakh was carved out of J&K and made as the separate Union Territory.

The Bharatiya Janata Party won 15 and formed the government with a majority while the Indian National Congress won 9 seats respectively out of the 26 seats. The other 2 seats were won by 2 independent candidates. Tashi Gyalson of the Bharatiya Janata Party was elected the Chief Executive Councillor.

The previous elections were held in 2015. The BJP was in power in the Leh Hill Development Council for the second consecutive term. It came to power for the first time in 2015 and retained power in 2020 with a majority. Prior to that, the Hill Council was mostly ruled by the Congress.

The Kargil Hill Development Council, ruled by NC and Congress, was formed in October 2023. It has its term till October 2028.

The Municipalities and Panchayats in the entire UT of Ladakh had completed their term in November-December 2023. Since then, there has been no effort to hold elections to them, like Jammu and Kashmir.

The Hill Council was the last elected body in the Leh district. It may be mentioned here that Leh was rocked by violence on September 24 during a protest called by youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) demanding preponement of talks with the MHA which, otherwise, were scheduled for October 6.

Four civilians were killed and 90 others were injured in the violence.

The MHA on August 25, 2024 approved five new districts for Ladakh and on December 3, 2024 announced 33 percent reservation for women in the twin Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil.

Three new districts were announced for Leh and two for Kargil. However, neither the districts have been formally created even after 14 months of announcement nor any Committee was set up to identify 33 percent seats to be reserved for the women.

Since three new districts have been carved out of existing Leh district and two from existing Kargil district, the Home Ministry has to take a call whether all seven new districts will get the Hill Councils or there will be a new mechanism in place.

Sources said fresh elections are likely to be held only after new districts are in place with 33 percent reservation for women.