Leh: A total of 3,365 voters are eligible to cast their votes in the November 21 elections to the Leh and Kargil Municipal Committees, with polling scheduled across 38 wards in the two towns.
Leh has 21 wards with 2,720 voters, while Kargil has 17 wards with 645 voters.
The election notification will be issued on October 29, while November 5 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on November 6, and candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 9. Election symbols will also be allotted on November 9. The election process is scheduled to conclude by November 30.
The polls will be conducted under the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Committee (Election) Rules, 2003.
Meanwhile, Rigzin Spalgon, Additional District Development Commissioner and Programme Officer of the Integrated Child Development Services, has been appointed nodal officer to coordinate between the State Election Commission and the election authority for the LAHDC elections.
The civic polls come amid continuing demands by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, including Sixth Schedule status and statehood.
LAB Co-chairman CheringDorjay Lakruk has said differences persist between Ladakh’s demands and the proposals discussed with the Union Home Ministry. He alleged that a draft submitted by Ladakh’s representatives had not been taken up for further discussion.
The LAB and KDA have repeatedly called for constitutional protection of local rights and greater political representation for Ladakh.
