Ladakh: Leh, Kargil bodies unite in poll boycott call; protest from November 12

Political and social organisations across Leh and Kargil have united in opposing the December 4 elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), announcing a boycott call, shutdowns and further protests over the winter poll schedule and alleged irregularities in constituency delimitation.

The opposition intensified after the Union Territory administration announced the election schedule on Monday, fixing polling for December 4 and counting by December 8. The last date for filing nominations is November 17. The schedule was notified through Order No. 551-LA(GAD) of 2026, dated November 10.

Kargil and the newly created Sankoo district observed a shutdown following a call by political parties and religious organisations, with support from groups in Leh. Protesters also held a candlelight demonstration, raising slogans of “Save Democracy”. They said the delimitation exercise, winter migration and what they described as a weakening of democratic rights had made the proposed elections unacceptable.

The latest confrontation comes amid a prolonged agitation in Ladakh since it became a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have jointly led demands for statehood, inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, a separate Public Service Commission and greater local control over land, jobs and natural resources.

Talks with the Centre have repeatedly stalled, with the groups accusing the administration of taking unilateral decisions. They have also raised objections to the dissolution of the Kargil LAHDC following the creation of new districts and the notification of 100 constituencies for eight hill councils. Protesters fear the changes could weaken local representation and democratic safeguards.

KDA calls for an end to ‘politics of imposition’

KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili, along with the Ladakh MP and representatives of political parties, religious organisations, civil society groups, traders and transporters, announced the shutdown in Kargil and Sankoo.

Addressing the gathering, Kargili said the protest reflected a collective demand for an end to what he described as the imposition of decisions on Ladakh.

“The way democracy is being murdered in Ladakh, keeping all those things in view, today here all parties, all religious, all social [groups] which include our All Merchants Association and people belonging to all business sections, transporters, hoteliers, and political parties including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, and besides them, representatives of all religious organizations who have come here our collective demand is that this politics of imposition, the politics of imposing decisions, should come to an end in Ladakh. Democracy in its true sense should be given to the people of Ladakh,” he said.

Kargili alleged that the powers of the Hill Council had been taken away, leaving it dysfunctional, and accused the UT Administration of imposing decisions on the region.

He also compared the situation in Ladakh with the wider debate over electoral representation, saying, “You see that right now inside this country, Gyanesh Kumar is accused of vote theft. But Ladakh is such a place where not votes, but representation has been stolen from the people. Our assembly has been stolen from us; our representation has been stolen from us.”

He said the struggle would continue to protect Ladakh's land, culture and identity.

Leh groups back boycott; Sonam Wangchuk announces protest from November 12

Opposition to the elections has also gathered momentum in Leh, where the Ladakh Apex Body, Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and Ladakh Gonpa Association have extended support to a proposed boycott.

LBA president Chering Dorjay Lakrook said the boycott call was initially given by the Nambardar Association of the erstwhile Leh district. The LBA and Gonpa Association later decided to support it following discussions at a meeting attended by representatives of the organisations.

The Leh Apex Body has also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the delimitation exercise in both Leh and Kargil. It has cited dissatisfaction with the BJP government's policies on land rights, the judicial commission and liquor policy.

Speaking at a press conference, LAB member Sonam Wangchuk questioned the decision to hold elections in December, citing the region's extreme winter conditions.

“Never in history has an election been held in winter, in December. Ladakh is one of the coldest places in the world, and some of its areas like Drass and Zanskar are considered the coldest. Temperatures drop down to minus 30, there is heavy snowfall, mountain passes get blocked, and people get stranded. In such conditions, what is the need to hold such important elections so early in December?” he said.

Wangchuk also questioned the time given for the nomination process, saying that, according to the group's lawyer, the election notification did not provide sufficient time for filing and withdrawing nominations. He alleged that the schedule went against the Representation of the People Act and affected people's right to representation.

He further claimed that around 40 per cent of Ladakh's population leaves the region during winter, while nearly 20 per cent of its youth travel to other cities for education. He said elderly people, patients and families also migrate during the colder months, making it difficult for a large section of the population to participate in the polls.

Wangchuk also questioned the delay in submitting the report of the Judicial Inquiry Commission constituted to probe the September 24 incidents last year.

He announced that a protest would begin in Leh on November 12, with people from across Ladakh expected to join and continue the demonstration until their demands were met.

The demands include the release of the judicial inquiry report, justice for those who lost their lives and those injured in the September 24 incidents, and the resolution of cases against those facing proceedings. The group has also called for the LAHDC elections to be held in May or June, when weather conditions are more favourable and more residents are present in the region.

Administration appeals to Leh, Kargil leaders to participate

Amid the growing opposition, Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said a boycott was not the solution to the region's concerns and urged the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance to remain engaged in talks with the Centre.

Kundra said the election schedule was important for timely budget preparation before March. He appealed to residents, including young people, women, senior citizens, religious organisations and government employees, to participate in the polls.

Describing the elections as a milestone, he said panchayats and eight new district councils were being constituted for the first time in three years, strengthening local democratic institutions.

On the shutdown, Kundra said people had the democratic right to express their dissatisfaction, including through protests and calls for closures.

“Democratic expression, there are many people who are not fully satisfied with delimitation of constituency or whatever other reason. And if some of them choose to manifest it in the shape of, you know, asking people to shut down their shops etc., that is also their democratic right. We have no quarrel with that,” he said.

He added that while Kargil observed a shutdown, Sankoo and Drass remained functional. Kundra expressed confidence that people in Kargil would participate in the elections and appealed to leaders from both Leh and Kargil to take part in the process.

With the nomination deadline set for November 17, the announcement has brought the administration and major representative bodies in Ladakh into a direct standoff. While the administration maintains that the December polls will strengthen local democratic institutions, the LAB and KDA have linked their opposition to wider demands concerning political representation, land rights and the judicial inquiry into last year's violence.

The coming days will determine whether the two sides can reach an understanding or whether the elections proceed amid continued protests and a boycott call.