The five-year term of the BJP-controlled Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh has expired, but the administration has not issued a fresh notification for holding elections of the representative body.
Its term expired yesterday and the sprawling Leh district that borders China and Pakistan is now without an elected institution that takes care of the requirements of people of the area. Kargil has a separate LAHDC.
Opposition parties have accused the administration of deliberately delaying the elections as the atmosphere was highly charged against the BJP following four deaths in police firing on 24 September and injuries to more than 90 persons.
A mob also ransacked the LAHDC office besides setting many other buildings, including the BJP office in Leh on fire.
Moreover, there was annoyance among the people over the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and non-fulfilment of the promises that the BJP had made during the last elections. They are demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh.
The BJP had won 15 of the 26 seats of the LAHDC in the 2020 elections. The Ladakh administration was expected to issue the notification for fresh polls for the LAHDC by 25 September so that elections could take place by 28 October and install the new Council on 1 November. The two LAHDCs were constituted in 1995 to decentralise governance in the region.
With the delay in fresh polls, charge of the Leh’s LAHDC might go to some bureaucrat.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which are spearheading the agitation for implementation of their four-point charter of demands, have become politically strong.
The Home Ministry recently resumed dialogue with representatives of LAB and KDA over their demands.
While congratulating the 6th LAHDC Leh and its Chairman Tashi Gyalson for the successful completion of their term, Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta commended the Hill Council for undertaking numerous development initiatives aimed at fulfilling the aspirations and expectations of the people of the Leh district.
The LG highlighted that, despite historical discrimination by the erstwhile J&K government, Ladakh has emerged among the country’s leading Union territories, owing to the dedication and efficiency of both the Hill Councils and government officers.
Tashi Gyalson conveyed his gratitude to the government of India, under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for its instrumental support—highlighting schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, which has brought tap water connections to remote locations like Demchok.
He thanked the UT Administration and the government of India for enabling access to resources essential for serving the people of Ladakh. He also outlined various development and welfare measures undertaken by the LAHDC Leh to meet the expectations of the Leh district’s residents and safeguard the interests of government staff in remote areas.