Arteev Sharma
Jammu: The announcement of Panchayat, Municipal and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council elections has created a sharp divide in Ladakh’s political and social circles, with the Leh Apex Body (LAB) alleging that “the move is aimed at weakening the ongoing movement for constitutional safeguards and statehood for the Union Territory”.
While some political groups, including the BJP, have urged people to participate enthusiastically in the electoral process, the LAB and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have opposed holding elections during the winter, arguing that the timing is “inappropriate” and could “undermine the larger political struggle of Ladakh”.
Intensifying its opposition, the LAB, which has been staging a sit-in protest at NDS Park for the past two days, has decided to launch a hunger strike from Saturday to mount pressure on the administration and election authorities to defer the Council elections until weather conditions improve.
“They have been making attempts to create chaos and confusion among the people to divide society along political lines. Such attempts have been continuing since the inception of the movement for constitutional safeguards and statehood for Ladakh. The recent developments are testimony to these designs,” LAB chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook told The News Now.
He alleged that the emergence of groups such as Voice of Buddhists reflected attempts to create divisions within Ladakhi society and weaken the collective movement. “The announcement of Panchayat, Municipal and Council elections could also be an attempt to divert attention from the crucial talks between the people of Ladakh and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),” he claimed.
Lakrook said the LAB had decided to intensify its agitation following the absence of any firm assurance from the administration regarding the postponement of the Council elections. “The Apex Body held a very important meeting today. Since the government is not providing any firm commitment regarding postponement of the Council elections, we have decided to intensify our agitation from tomorrow. In addition to the ongoing sit-in, some of our members will also begin a hunger strike,” he said.
“We are escalating our protest due to the lack of a clear indication from the government, and we intend to scale it up further as time progresses”, he said and added that they had previously stated that if their demands were not met, they would continue to escalate their actions. “We have discussed our decision with KDA over the telephone, and they are 100 percent in agreement with our course of action,” he claimed.
The opposition to the elections is gaining support from several organisations. The Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) and Ladakh Gonpa Association have announced their decision to boycott the polls. The Sham Coordination Committee and residents of Kharu sub-division have also announced a boycott. On the other hand, the BJP, along with former LBA president and Lok Sabha member Thupstan Chhewang, has been urging people to participate in the elections in large numbers. The Panchayat and Municipal elections in Ladakh are scheduled for November 21, while polling for the eight newly created LAHDCs is scheduled for December 4.
Pertinently, Ladakh Administration imposed 60-day restrictions on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, prohibiting him from “engaging in any activity, organising or participating in any unauthorised rally, procession or public gathering”.
On November 11, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Ladakh banned political dharnas, protests and rallies in view of the model code of conduct currently in force for the upcoming municipal elections, prompting the Ladakhi leadership to appeal to countrymen to prevent “enforced elections” and threaten an agitation.
The poll panel had announced December 4 as the polling date for eight newly created Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) despite a shutdown in Kargil against holding elections during the harsh winter and a decision by some influential Leh outfits to boycott the process.
Wangchuk has written to the Union Home Minister, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor, and others, stating that the order putting restrictions on him has effectively curtailed his “right to freedom of movement and speech”.
