SRINAGAR: Three prominent organisations in Ladakh, including the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), have announced a boycott of the forthcoming panchayat and urban local body elections, protesting against the decision to hold the polls during harsh winter conditions when a large section of the population has migrated from the region.
The boycott was announced following a meeting of the Nambardar Association, LBA and Ladakh Gonpa Association in Leh, where a proposal moved by the Nambardar Association was unanimously endorsed by the three organisations.
LBA president Chering Dorjay Lakrook told The Tribune that around 70 Nambardars had participated in the meeting and submitted the proposal seeking a boycott of the elections.
He said the timing of the polls was the principal reason behind the decision, claiming that nearly half of Ladakh’s population had migrated because of the onset of winter.
“When we were part of Jammu and Kashmir, elections would be postponed because of the harsh winter conditions. However, the present administration is paying no heed to these concerns and has announced the election at a time when nearly half the population has migrated due to winter,” Lakrook said.
He also questioned the administration’s failure to mention the date of declaration of results in the election notification, alleging that the omission had raised suspicions.
The Ladakh administration announced elections to panchayats and municipal committees in Leh and Kargil last month.
The boycott announcement comes amid wider opposition to the proposed LAHDC elections. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa Jan has written to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, seeking deferment of the council elections, citing harsh winter conditions, seasonal migration and the need for a comprehensive revision of electoral rolls.
Meanwhile, a shutdown was observed in Kargil on Tuesday over the proposed timing of the LAHDC elections.
Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) co-chairman Sajjad Kargili told The Tribune that the shutdown was called to demand that the elections be held after winter. He also cited the delimitation exercise and stalled ongoing talks as reasons behind the protest.
