Polling begins for 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil elections

Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) [India]: Voting for the 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil elections began amid security arrangements on Wednesday morning. The LAHDC Kargil had come into effect in 2003.

According to Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, “Today is the polling day of LAHDC elections. The mock poll process is being conducted at polling stations.

We have a total of 278 polling stations. Police arrangements have been made to carry out free and fair elections. Out of the 278 stations, 114 are hyper-sensitive and 99 are sensitive polling stations. Police deployments have been done accordingly.”

Ahead of the voting, the Department of Information and Public Relations, Kargil, Ladakh issued an advisory asking voters as well as candidates/polling agents that mobile phones will not be permitted inside polling booths.

“Advisory from the Election Authority for General Elections of LAHDC-Kargil. This is for the information of all voters & candidates/polling agents that Mobile phones will not be permitted inside polling booths. All Concerned are requested to adhere to this directive,” posted DIPR Kargil on X.

Meanwhile, women came out in large numbers to cast their votes for the 5th LAHDC elections underway in Trespone Village of Kargil.

Earlier last month, the Ladakh administration announced a new schedule for elections to the fifth LAHDC in the Kargil region, following a directive by the Supreme Court.

This notification came after the Supreme Court, while restoring the National Conference’s party symbol for the upcoming election, also set aside the UT administration’s previous election notification since NC candidates had not been able to file nominations.

As per the notification, elections to 26 seats of the 30-member LAHDC were be held on October 4. As per the previous notification, elections to the LAHDC were scheduled to be held on September 10 and counting to be held on September 14.

Counting of votes will now take place on October 8.