 Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 16: With agitation over statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule gaining momentum in Ladakh, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has begun early preparations for the upcoming elections to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, expected to be held in the last week of October.
Facing mounting pressure from various social and political groups critical of its stance on statehood and the Sixth Schedule demand, the BJP is determined to retain its stronghold in Leh. In the last council elections held in October 2020, the party secured a decisive victory, winning 17 of the 26 seats and dislodging the Congress from its erstwhile position. The Congress managed to secure four seats, while the National Conference (NC) won two.
The LAHDC Leh was established under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Act of 1995 during the tenure of former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, with its first election held in the same year. Later, during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s leadership of the PDP government in 2003, a similar autonomous council was created for Kargil district. Since its inception, the Leh council has largely remained under Congress influence, although recent elections have seen shifts in voter sentiment.
The council elections, held every five years, come at a time of renewed debate over Ladakh’s political status and demands for greater autonomy. In the last parliamentary elections, independent candidate Mohammad Haneefa Jan — unofficially backed by the NC — emerged victorious from the Ladakh seat. The BJP, which had won consecutive Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019, witnessed a significant decline in 2024. BJP’s candidate, Tashi Gyalson, finished third with 31,956 votes, while Jan secured 65,259 votes and Congress’ Tsering Namgyal trailed with 37,397 votes.
Learning from this setback, the BJP has begun its election strategy well in advance of the official announcement. National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and State General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul have arrived in Leh to lead preparations and coordinate with local units.
The BJP’s early mobilization signals the party’s intent to counter criticism and consolidate support, particularly among communities concerned about identity, development, and representation. As Ladakh’s political landscape continues to evolve, the upcoming LAHDC elections are expected to be a critical test of party loyalty and public sentiment.
The coming weeks will likely see intensified campaigning, strategic alliances, and efforts to address pressing local issues, as parties gear up to shape the future of Leh’s governance and its role within the broader Union Territory framework. |