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

As civil society groups in Ladakh threaten to resume agitations to press for a slew of demands, the Union Territory’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Wednesday (November 11, 2026) issued an order banning all dharnas, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins and rallies within Leh and Kargil municipal limits.

Also read | Why Ladakh polls announcement not addressed by protesting civil society groups | Explained

The order said that the restrictions would remain in force till the completion of the election process for Leh and Kargil Municipal Committees this month.

“The model code requires the 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 voters,” the order said.

It said organizing political dharnas, protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, rallies or similar communal activities during this period could intimidate voters, disturb public order and disturb the atmosphere for free and fair elections.

He directed all political parties, candidates and their agents to strictly adhere to the provisions of the model code of conduct and ensure that no activities are carried out that could intimidate, coerce or unduly influence voters.

District Election Officers or Deputy Commissioners of Leh and Kargil and Superintendents of Police of the districts were directed to “ensure strict compliance with the order”.

“Any violation will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law, including proceedings under relevant provisions and the model code of conduct,” he added.

A call to agitation

The order came a day after the Leh Apex Body (LAB) called for an agitation, with a meeting on November 12, to press its demands on a host of issues, including resumption of talks between the Center and the Ladakh authorities, release of the status of the judicial inquiry report by September 24, 2025, the violence that left four dead, council elections next year.

In a video Wednesday, LAB members, including co-chair Tsering Dorjey Lakrook and activist Sonam Wangchuk, called on President Droupadi Murma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi to “intervene before the people of Ladakh are forced to launch peaceful but intense agitations.”

“While the Judicial Commission of Inquiry report on the September 24 Leh incidents is moving at a snail’s pace even a year after the incident and talks on restoration of democracy have collapsed, the UT administration is moving at rocket speed to hold some kind of assembly elections here, apparently to install people of their choice here to negotiate democracy and guarantees,” said Mr. Wancghuk.

“Postpone Elections”

Ladakh, which was carved out as a union territory from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, will hold multi-level elections to panchayats, municipalities and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) between November 21 and December 4.

The LAB officials demanded the postponement of the upper body elections saying that these elections are being held “despite December and January being the coldest and snowiest months with temperatures falling below minus 30 degrees Celsius in many places and (when) almost half the population migrates from Ladakh for education, holidays, pilgrimages etc.

“People in every region of Ladakh are protesting against the type of councils and the way these elections are being conducted,” Mr Wangchuk said.

Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa also opposed holding the election on the date, citing harsh winter conditions, seasonal migration and lack of time to revise electoral rolls. He also urged the Union Home Minister to intervene and pointed out that a period of just four days is being given to revise and publish the electoral rolls.

“I hope the Union Home Minister will consider the genuine concerns and take appropriate action,” the MP said.

Published – 11 Nov 2026 22:43 IST