The Union government is reportedly willing to engage in high-powered committee-level discussions with representatives from Ladakh between December 5 and December 10, following the conclusion of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections scheduled for December 4. This willingness to negotiate was conveyed through unofficial channels to the Leh Apex Body (LAB) chairman, Chering Dorje Lakruk.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that while the Centre has signaled its readiness for talks, concerns persist regarding the timing of the elections. Leh Apex Body chairman Chering Dorje Lakruk expressed apprehension that the government might be strategically scheduling the polls to weaken the region’s unified leadership ahead of critical negotiations.
Speaking to PTI from Leh, where he has been leading a sit-in protest since November 12, Lakruk articulated the demands that include the resumption of dialogue and a postponement of the LAHDC elections. He stated that unofficial channels had informed him of the Centre’s inclination to restart negotiations shortly after the elections.
Lakruk questioned the government’s insistence on proceeding with the December 4 elections despite repeated requests for a deferral. He alleged that this move could be a tactic to ensure the participation of government-favoured representatives in the proposed talks, thereby diminishing the influence of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
The LAB and KDA have been advocating for several years for the restoration of statehood and have been in dialogue with the central government concerning their demands for an elected government and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh. Lakruk voiced concerns that the government might attempt to influence the election outcomes by fielding preferred candidates, which could lead to a situation where the Centre claims to negotiate with ‘real representatives’ to push its own agenda.
The leadership of the LAB and KDA is reportedly apprehensive about the potential manipulation of the electoral process through official machinery and other means. Lakruk claimed that, under normal circumstances, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would face significant challenges in winning the elections.
Criticizing the government’s stance on the election schedule, Lakruk highlighted that this would be the first time in Ladakh’s history that elections are conducted during the harsh winter season. He noted that approximately 25 percent of the region’s population typically migrates out of the Union Territory during this period.
Furthermore, Lakruk alleged substantial discrepancies in the electoral rolls. He pointed to the large-scale deletion of names, the exclusion of a considerable number of young voters, and the inclusion of deceased individuals’ names. He asserted that conducting elections without rectifying these issues would compromise the credibility and representativeness of the electoral exercise.
The LAB chairman clarified that the demand is not for the cancellation of elections, but for their postponement until the return of residents who are away during winter and until the electoral rolls are accurately updated. The objective, he stressed, is to ensure maximum voter participation.
Lakruk reiterated that the call for deferring the polls is aimed at guaranteeing that every eligible voter, especially young citizens, has the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights. The leadership seeks a transparent electoral process that would be followed by meaningful engagement with the Centre on Ladakh’s long-standing demands.
Lakruk, who participated in a 24-hour hunger strike along with 40 religious leaders, stated that the protest would continue until their demands are met. Two forms of agitation are currently underway: a peaceful sit-in protest that began on Thursday at NDS Memorial Park, and a chain hunger strike initiated on Saturday by religious leaders.
The ongoing agitation has garnered support from outside the Union Territory, with the Tribal Affairs Minister of Jharkhand visiting the protest site to express solidarity. The LAB and KDA leadership remain committed to engaging in dialogue with the Centre, but insist that such discussions must be substantive and inclusive, and not dictated by an electoral process in which a significant portion of Ladakh’s population may be unable to participate.
The intensification of the movement, Lakruk explained, was a response to the government’s failure to hold the proposed dialogue on October 22 and its decision to proceed with the hill council elections amidst severe winter conditions. The agitation was planned to press for the resumption of dialogue on constitutional safeguards and the demand for a Union Territory-level elected body headed by a chief minister.
The Chenab Times News Desk
