Markets stayed shut and roads wore a deserted look in Kargil on Tuesday as a complete shutdown was observed against the administration’s decision to hold the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections in the dead of winter.
Shopkeepers and traders downed shutters, demanding that the polls be postponed and that the recently completed delimitation exercise be reviewed. Traffic was visibly thinner than usual.
Why the strike
The bandh was called by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and backed by political and religious organisations, trade bodies and civil society groups. The KDA alleges irregularities in the delimitation process and the election schedule. It also accuses the administration of eroding democratic rights in Ladakh and of taking unilateral decisions while ignoring local residents and public representatives. As a precaution, the administration deployed additional police personnel across the city.
KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said the shutdown would last until 5 p.m. Essential services, including medical facilities, water supply and school buses, were exempted. In the evening, the alliance will hold a candlelight march under the banner ‘Save Democracy’.
MP writes to LG
Ladakh MP Mohammad Hanifa has written to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, seeking postponement of the polls. He argued that the geography of Kargil and Leh, combined with harsh winter conditions, would seriously hamper voting. Heavy snowfall, sub-zero temperatures, road closures and disrupted transport and communication links would make it hard for voters in remote areas to reach polling stations.
The MP noted that thousands of residents, including the elderly, businessmen and students, move to warmer regions every winter. Many students preparing for higher education and competitive exams also live outside Ladakh. Holding elections now, he said, could deprive a large number of eligible voters of their democratic right.
He pointed to remote areas such as Dras, Zanskar and Changthang, saying Ladakh’s vast expanse, scattered population and limited winter connectivity must be considered when fixing poll dates. He also sought adequate time to revise the electoral rolls and to consult elected representatives, political parties and other stakeholders before the schedule is finalised.
Leh Apex Body joins demand
Leh Apex Body chairman Chhering Dorjay also demanded that the elections be put off until April-May and that delimitation be reviewed to ensure proper representation in the constituencies.
Where things stand
The Ladakh administration has completed delimitation of 100 constituencies across the Union Territory’s eight districts, and a 33 per cent reservation for women has been approved. The final electoral rolls are due to be published on November 10. The LAHDC election schedule has not yet been announced.
