Leh/Jammu, October 23: The electoral process for the long-awaited municipal elections in Ladakh has begun, with the Chief Electoral Officer on Friday announcing polling for the Leh and Kargil municipal committees on November 21.
The elections will cover 38 wards across the two municipal bodies, including 21 wards in Leh and 17 in Kargil. The announcement marks a significant step towards restoring elected local governance in the Union Territory, as the terms of both municipal committees have expired.
According to a press note issued by Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Sharma, the electoral rolls for both municipal committees were published on Thursday, with October 1 fixed as the qualifying date.
As per the proposed election schedule, the notification will be issued on October 29, while November 5 will be the last date for filing nomination papers. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 6, and candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations until November 9. The allotment of election symbols and publication of the list of contesting candidates will also take place on November 9.
Polling will be held on November 21, and the entire election process is scheduled to be completed by November 30.
The last municipal and panchayat elections in Ladakh were held in 2018, when the region was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Since then, the terms of both municipal bodies have ended, making the upcoming polls crucial for the revival of elected representation at the local level.
The elections are being conducted under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Committee (Election) Rules, 2003.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect and will remain in place until the completion of the election process. Political parties, candidates and concerned authorities have been directed to strictly comply with the code and all instructions issued by the competent authority.
The November 21 polls will give voters in Leh and Kargil an opportunity to elect representatives who will oversee local civic affairs and raise issues concerning public services, infrastructure and urban development in their respective areas.