SRINAGAR: Elections to the Municipal Committees of Leh and Kargil will be held on November 21, with the entire electoral process scheduled to conclude by November 30, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Ladakh, Rahul Sharma, announced on Friday.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect and will remain in force until the completion of the election process, Sharma said at a press conference while announcing the election schedule.
According to the final electoral rolls published on October 22, the Municipal Committee Leh has 2,720 electors across 21 wards, while the Municipal Committee Kargil has 645 electors across 17 wards.
The election notification will be issued on October 29. The last date for filing nomination papers is November 5, while scrutiny of nominations will take place on November 6.
Candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 9, which is also the date for allotment of election symbols and publication of the final list of contesting candidates.
Polling in both municipal committees will be held on Saturday, November 21. The entire election process is scheduled to be completed by November 30.
Sharma said the electoral rolls had been revised for all 38 wards of the two municipal committees, with October 1, 2026, set as the qualifying date for determining voter eligibility.
Draft electoral rolls were published on October 5, following which claims and objections were received and necessary additions and deletions incorporated before the final rolls were published.
He said eligible persons with claims or objections could seek redressal under the applicable provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Committee (Election) Rules, 2003.
The elections will be conducted under the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Committee (Election) Rules, 2003.
The CEO directed political parties, contesting candidates and the authorities concerned to comply strictly with the Model Code of Conduct and instructions issued by the competent authority during the election process.
Appealing to eligible voters to participate in the polls, Sharma said active public participation was essential for strengthening democratic institutions.
