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

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.

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 L-G 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. 

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.  

Saxena reacts

Ladakh 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.

KDA member Sajjad Kargilli said the LAHDC is a statutory body, whereas the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, adapted to incorporate the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in October 2020, provides a constitutional framework for grassroots democracy. “The fundamental question is: How can a statutory body be placed above a constitutional framework? Every passing day, bureaucratic decisions are shrinking democratic space and silencing the people of Ladakh,” said Mr. Kargilli.