Complete Shutdown in Kargil Protests Winter Elections for LAHDC
Kargil witnesses a complete shutdown against winter elections for the LAHDC, with calls to postpone voting due to harsh weather conditions.
Kargil, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : In Kargil, the region was completely shut down on November 10, in response to the administration’s decision to hold elections for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) in December. The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) organized the strike, which saw shops and businesses close their doors.
The KDA is demanding a postponement of the winter elections and a review of the recent delimitation process. Traffic was notably sparse throughout the area, with additional police forces deployed in several locations as a precaution.
The KDA, a coalition of political and religious organizations, business groups, and civil society, also announced a candlelight march under the banner “Save Democracy” for the evening. Co-chairman Sajjad Kargili stated that the shutdown would continue until the evening, though essential services like medical facilities, water supply, and school buses were exempt from the strike.
Ladakh MP Mohammad Haneefa has appealed to Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena to delay the elections, citing severe cold, snowfall, and road closures that could hinder access to polling stations for residents in remote areas.
Meanwhile, the president of the Leh Apex Body, Shering Dorje, has called for the elections to be postponed until April or May and for a review of the delimitation process. He emphasized the need for significant revisions to the voter list and consultations with elected representatives, political parties, and other stakeholders before finalizing the election schedule.
The administration has completed the delimitation of 100 constituencies across Ladakh’s eight districts and approved 33% reservation for women. Today, it issued a notification for elections to all eight LAHDCs. Utilizing powers under Section 4(2) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act, 1997, and Rule 4 of the LAHDC (Elections) Rules, 2026, the Lieutenant Governor directed the election of members for the new councils. The deadline for filing nominations is set for November 17, with scrutiny on November 18 and the last date for withdrawal on November 20.
Voting is scheduled for December 4, from 8 AM to 5 PM, with the entire election process expected to conclude by December 8, 2026.
