Ehsaan Yousf
Leh, November 2026 (AN): The Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Ashish Kundra, IAS addressed a press conference to brief the media on the forthcoming Panchayat, Municipal Council and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections, besides addressing key policy matters concerning the Excise Policy and Nautor Land Regulations.
Extending Diwali greetings to the people of Ladakh, the Chief Secretary informed that Panchayat elections and elections to the Leh and Kargil Municipal Councils will be held on November 21, as announced by the respective electoral authorities.
Elections to all eight LAHDCs, covering 100 constituencies across Ladakh, will be held on December 4. Following the creation of eight districts from the erstwhile two districts, the number of LAHDC constituencies has increased from 26 each in Leh and Kargil to 100 for whole Ladakh. The delimitation exercise was undertaken in accordance with the prescribed rules, taking into account population and the existing Panchayat Halqas and Municipal Wards.
As per the election schedule of LAHDCs, November 17, 2026 is the last date for filing nominations, November 18 for scrutiny and November 20 for withdrawal of candidature. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed before December 8.
Sharing the election figures, the Chief Secretary informed that out of 192 Panchayat Halqas, 55 Sarpanches have been elected unopposed, while elections will be held for the remaining 137 seats.
Similarly, 1186 Panch candidates have been elected unopposed out of 1428. In the Leh Municipal Council, elections will be held in all 21 wards, while four out of 17 wards in the Kargil Municipal Council have elected representatives unopposed.
He also highlighted that, for the first time, 36 out of the 100 LAHDC seats have been reserved for women, marking a significant step towards strengthening women’s representation in grassroots democratic institutions.
On concerns raised regarding the Excise Policy, the Chief Secretary stated that the Administration had held detailed discussions with women representatives and other stakeholders, keeping local sensitivities in mind. He assured that the policy would be reviewed through wider consultations after the conclusion of the elections, as no changes could be made during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
Emphasising the importance of balancing local customs and sensitivities with economic considerations, he noted that tourism remains central to Ladakh’s economy and supports the livelihoods of a large number of people. Referring to the teachings of Lord Buddha and the principle of the Middle Path, he stressed the need for a balanced approach while formulating the next year’s Excise policy.
Regarding the Nautor Land Regulations, he stated that the draft had been prepared to address the long-pending issue of people holding Nautor land without proper legal titles.
Suggestions received from the public on Land regularisation rates and the proposed treatment of land belonging to universities; educational and religious institutions would be duly considered. He assured that the final regulations would be formulated only after detailed consultations with the newly elected LAHDCs.
The Chief Secretary also clarified that the newly elected LAHDCs would retain all powers vested in them under the existing law. In addition, they would exercise the powers envisaged for the District Panchayat under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, thereby further strengthening the role of the elected Councils.
Addressing concerns over the conduct of elections during winter, he assured that instructions had been issued to all Deputy Commissioners to ensure adequate facilities at polling stations, including heaters and separate queues for senior citizens. He observed that the timely constitution of the Councils was essential, as the newly elected LAHDCs would have January, February and March available for preparation of the budget for the next financial year.
Concluding his address, the Chief Secretary appealed to the people of Ladakh, particularly the youth, women, senior citizens, religious organisations and government employees, to participate enthusiastically in the forthcoming elections and exercise their democratic right to vote.
He noted that Panchayat elections had not been held for the past three years and described the constitution of eight new District Councils as an important milestone in strengthening democratic institutions in Ladakh.
Referring to the discussions held with the Apex Body and other stakeholders, he reiterated the commitment of the Government of India and the Ladakh Administration towards strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring their early constitution. He called upon all sections of society to make the forthcoming electoral exercise a success and contribute towards further deepening democracy in Ladakh (AN).
