Leh, Nov 10: Elections to all the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) would be held on December 4, according to an official announcement made today even as Kargil and Sankoo districts of the Union Territory observed a shutdown to oppose holding of the exercise during the winter month.
Ladakh Lt. Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena issued a notification after the State Election Commission (SEC) of Ladakh announced the poll schedule for Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) in the Union Territory.
As per the poll schedule, the election process will begin with the filing of nominations and the last date for filing of nominations is November 17, 2026.
The scrutiny of nominations will be held on November 18 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 20.
The polling for the LAHDC elections will be held on December 4 from 8 am to 5 pm and the entire election process shall be completed by December 8, 2026.
The poll schedule was announced after the administration finalized and notified the delimitation of 100 elected constituencies across eight LAHDCs under the LAHDC (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, increasing the total number of councilors from 52 to 100.
The announcement of poll dates has come when people in Kargil and Sankoo districts of Ladakh observed a shutdown today to protest against holding of Hill council polls during the harsh winter, when temperature stays many degrees below freezing point.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili has opposed holding of Hill Council elections in December, saying around 20-30 per cent of Ladakh’s population, including students, elderly people and businesspersons, migrate during winter to other areas.
“December is an unreasonable and unethical time for holding the elections,” he said.
Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan had requested the Lieutenant Governor and the State Election Commission not to hold the Hill Council elections in December due to harsh climatic conditions.
“No election in Ladakh has been held during winter and holding the hill council polls in December could deprive a sizable section of the population of the right to vote,” he said.
“If the government wants the democratic setup to be in place, every voter must get an opportunity to vote and elect their representative,” the MP has said.
It now remains to be seen what stand the KDA and Leh Apex Body (LAB), which are spearheading agitation for constitutional safeguards under Article 371 and UT-level election body in the cold desert, take on the announcement of the Hill Council polls. (NVI)
