Ladakh administration dissolves hill council in Kargil, announces panchayat elections on November 21

Ladakh administration dissolves hill council in Kargil, announces panchayat elections on November 21 left Ladakh governor Vinai Kumar Saxena termed the election announcement as “a historic milestone for grassroots democracy in Ladakh”. File ANI ANI ANI Leh, Oct 06 (ANI): Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena graces the valedictory function and passing-out parade of police personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs) at Stongsar's Police Training School and the inauguration of 24 police family quarters, as well as Ladakh Fire and Rescue Service initiatives, in Leh on Tuesday.

(@lg_ladakh X/ANI Photo) The administration of Ladakh has notified 100 elected constituencies for the eight districts of the region; nominations will close on November 2 while the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect Srinagar The Ladakh administration on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) dissolved the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil and announced panchayat elections on November 21 in the cold desert region.

An official said the Ladakh State Election Commission (SEC) proposed to hold the Panchayat General Elections across all panchayat halqas on November 21, 2026. The nominations will close on November 2, the official said. A Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force with immediate effect. President promulgates LAHDC Regulation, paves the way for hill council polls in all eight districts of Ladakh President promulgates LAHDC Regulation, paves the way for hill council polls in all eight districts of Ladakh L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena says the decision is historic as ‘it was implemented in a record time of just six days and now paves the way for creation of LAHDC in all eight districts of Ladakh, including the newly-created Sankoo district’ President promulgates LAHDC Regulation, paves the way for hill council polls in all eight districts of Ladakh storyline 1 The Ladakh administration has notified 100 elected constituencies for the eight districts of the region, with Leh comprising 22 seats, Kargil 21, Sankoo 13, Changthang 10, Nubra nine, Sham nine, Zanskar nine and Drass seven.

Officials said the number of elected constituencies will also “be the basis for the constitution of” the LAHDCs in eight districts of the region. Earlier, Ladakh had only two hill councils for Kargil and Leh districts. However, the administration has created six additional districts in the region. The last elections for panchayats and municipalities were held in Ladakh in 2018, when the region was part of Jammu and Kashmir.

Ladakh was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019 from the Kashmir division of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. LAHDC Kargil dissolved Meanwhile, the administration of Ladakh also dissolved the erstwhile LAHDC Kargil “with immediate effect following the reorganisation of districts”. The elections to the council in Kargil were held in 2023 and the body would have completed five years in 2028.

The elections were won by the National Conference-Congress alliance that won 24 seats, with the NC winning 12 seats and the Congress 10 seats. Two seats were won by the BJP and two by Independent candidates. New draft proposal, new districts: what the Centre’s moves mean for Ladakh | Explained New draft proposal, new districts: what the Centre’s moves mean for Ladakh | Explained The two developments may come across unrelated, but indicates the Centre’s fresh approach to address the demands of the region at various levels; next round of talks on October 22 in New Delhi New draft proposal, new districts: what the Centre’s moves mean for Ladakh | Explained storyline 1 The latest developments came at a time when the Centre was holding talks with the representatives of Ladakh over the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule.

The recent round of talks held in Leh on October 15 saw growing differences between the stakeholders. The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), after examining the fresh 32-page draft proposal presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), “categorically rejected the draft proposal in principle and said it represents a significant departure from the assurances and commitments made during previous meetings of the sub-committee”.

Official sources said the next round of talks between the Centre and Ladakh’s key civil society bodies, the LAB and the KDA, was scheduled for October 22 in New Delhi. A new governance model for Ladakh A new governance model for Ladakh Ladakh was made a Union Territory under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, prompting concerns from local groups about preservation of Ladakh’s culture and demands for Sixth Schedule status; the Centre has proposed to insert Article 371-K into the Constitution to provide for a directly elected legislative body instead A new governance model for Ladakh storyline 1 Saxena reacts Ladakh Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena termed the election announcement as “a historic milestone for grassroots democracy in Ladakh”.

“Under LAHDC (Amendment) Regulation, 2026, I have officially notified 100 constituencies for the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. This almost doubles the number of councillors from the existing 52 to 100, across our newly structured councils,” said Mr. Saxena. He said this was a rational and fair apportionment that uses panchayat halqas and municipal wards as foundational units, giving due weight to both the population and geographical area.

“I am confident, the increased number of seats will significantly enhance local representation, strengthen grassroots democracy, and promote inclusive governance across every corner of Ladakh,” said Mr. Saxena. L-G would be final authority in proposed U.T.-level body in Ladakh, says Centre’s proposal L-G would be final authority in proposed U.T.-level body in Ladakh, says Centre’s proposal The draft, accessed by The Hindu asks, whether the delimitation of constituencies for the elected body…