Srinagar, Nov 10: The Ladakh administration on Tuesday announced the schedule for elections to the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), with polling scheduled to be held on December 4.

The election schedule was announced amid opposition from various groups in Ladakh, with Kargil observing a complete shutdown on Tuesday against holding the LAHDC elections during winter.
According to a notification issued by the State Election Commission, Ladakh, the election process will begin with the filing of nominations.
The last date to file nomination papers was fixed on November 17. This will be followed by a scrutiny of nomination papers on November 18 at the offices of the respective Returning Officers.
Candidates will be able to withdraw their candidature by November 20, with 3 pm fixed as the deadline.
Polling, if required, will be held on December 4 between 8 am and 5 pm, while the entire election process is to be completed by December 8, the notification said.
The schedule follows a notification issued by the Ladakh Administration’s Revenue Department, calling upon all the 100 constituencies of the eight LAHDCs in the Union territory to constitute new councils.
The Union Territory of Ladakh is also scheduled to hold panchayat and municipal elections on November 21.
The announcement came as Kargil observed a complete shutdown, called by several local organisations demanding that the elections be postponed until after winter.
In Kargil, markets and business establishments remained shut in response to the call, which local leaders announced at a press conference also attended by Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan.
The organisations have objected to holding elections in the winter months, saying harsh weather and seasonal migration could hurt voter participation.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said the shutdown was meant to draw attention to concerns over the proposed elections, delimitation and "attempts to weaken democracy in Ladakh".
MP Haneefa Jan has also written to the Lieutenant Governor, urging him to reconsider and defer the schedule, allow enough time for a comprehensive revision of electoral rolls, and consult all stakeholders before finalising it.
Several groups, including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, have demanded postponement of the polls until after the winter season.
The Jamiat ul Ulama Isna Asharia has demanded that the elections be deferred until April-May 2027, citing adverse weather and seasonal migration.
Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra defended the decision to hold the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections on December 4, claiming that the polls mark an important step towards deepening democracy and strengthening democratic institutions in the Union Territory.
Appealing to people of Ladakh, including youth and religious organisations, to participate enthusiastically in the electoral process, Kundra said the upcoming elections would mark a significant step towards strengthening grassroots democracy and revitalising democratic governance across the region.
Before the LAHDC elections, panchayat and municipal polls will be held in Ladakh on November 21.
Addressing concerns over holding elections during the winter season, the chief secretary said schools in Ladakh have traditionally remained functional until December 15 or 16, and there should be no particular difficulty for adults in exercising their right to vote on December 4.
He assured voters that the administration had instructed all deputy commissioners to make adequate arrangements at polling stations, including heating facilities and separate queues for senior citizens, to ensure that voters do not face inconvenience.
Emphasising the importance of the election schedule, Kundra said the timely constitution of the elected councils would give them the months of January, February and March to prepare the budget for the next financial year.
"If the councils are constituted after that, the entire budget preparation cycle could be missed, potentially delaying the process by a full year," Kundra said addressing a press conference here, underlining that the budget had to be prepared before March.
He also rejected perceptions that the incoming elected LAHDCs would not enjoy their full powers.
The chief secretary clarified that the powers already vested in the councils under the existing law would remain intact.
He explained that the elected councils would exercise not only the powers provided under the relevant Act but also those envisaged for the District Panchayat under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.