Amid call for Ladakh protest, CEO prohibits dharnas in Leh, Kargil over upcoming polls

With Ladakh’s civil society groups threatening to resume agitations to push a slew of demands, the Union Territory’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Wednesday (November 11, 2026) issued an order prohibiting all dharnas, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins and rallies within the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil while the Model Code of Conduct is in force ahead of local body elections.Also read | Why Ladakh polls announcement fails to cut ice with protesting civil society groups | ExplainedThe order said the restrictions will remain in force until the completion of the election process for the municipal committees of Leh and Kargil this month.“The Model Code requires maintenance of an atmosphere conducive to free, fair and peaceful elections, and no activity should be permitted which may create intimidation, fear or undue influence among electors,” said the order.It said organising political dharnas, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies, or similar collective activities during this period would have the potential to intimidate voters, disturb public order, and vitiate the atmosphere for free and fair elections.It directed all political parties, candidates, and their agents to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and ensure no activity is undertaken that may intimidate, coerce, or unduly influence electors.The District Election Officers, or Deputy Commissioners, of Leh and Kargil and the Superintendents of Police of the districts were directed “to ensure strict compliance of the order”.“Any violation will be dealt with firmly in accordance with law, including proceedings under relevant provisions and the Model Code of Conduct,” it added.Call for agitationThe order came a day after Leh Apex Body (LAB) called for an agitation, with a sit-in from November 12, to press their demands on a slew of issues, including the resumption of talks between the Centre and Ladakh bodies, making public the status of the judicial inquiry report into the September 24, 2025, violence that left four people dead, and the postponement of hill council elections till next year.Members of the LAB, including co-chairman Tsering Dorjey Lakrook and activist Sonam Wangchuk, on Wednesday made a video appeal to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi “to intervene before people of Ladakh are forced to start peaceful but intense agitations to demonstrate our pain”.“While the judicial inquiry commission report on the September 24 incidents in Leh moves at a snail’s pace even after a year of the incident, and the talks on restoration of democracy have broken down, the U.T. administration is moving at rocket speed to conduct some kind of council elections here, apparently to have people of their choice installed to negotiate on democracy and safeguards here,” said Mr. Wancghuk.‘Postpone elections’Ladakh, which was carved out as a Union Territory in 2019 from the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, will hold multi-tier elections to panchayats, municipalities, and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs) between November 21 and December 4.The LAB leaders demanded postponement of hill council elections, saying these elections were being held “in spite of December and January being the coldest and snowiest months with temperatures dipping below minus 30 degrees Celsius in many places and [when] close to half the population migrates out of Ladakh for education, vacation, pilgrimage, etc”.“People in every region of Ladakh are protesting against the type of councils and manner of conduct of these elections,” said Mr. Wangchuk.Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa also opposed holding the elections at the given time, citing harsh winter conditions, seasonal migration, and inadequate time for revision of electoral rolls. He also urged the Union Home Minister to intervene and underlined that a period of just four days is being provided for the revision and publication of electoral rolls. “I hope the Union Home Minister will consider genuine concerns and take appropriate action,” said the MP.