Leh: The Ladakh Administration on Tuesday announced the schedule for elections to the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), with polling scheduled to be held on December 4.
The election schedule was announced amid opposition from various groups in Ladakh, with Kargil observing a complete shutdown on Tuesday against holding the LAHDC elections during winter. Several groups, including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, have demanded postponement of the polls until after the winter season.
According to a notification issued by the State Election Commission, Ladakh, the election process will begin with the filing of nominations.
The last date to file nomination papers was fixed on November 17. This will be followed by a scrutiny of nomination papers on November 18 at the offices of the respective Returning Officers.
Candidates will be able to withdraw their candidature by November 20, with 3 pm fixed as the deadline.
Polling, if required, will be held on December 4 between 8 am and 5 pm, while the entire election process is to be completed by December 8, the notification said.
The schedule follows a notification issued by the Ladakh Administration's Revenue Department, calling upon all 100 constituencies of the eight LAHDCs in the Union territory to constitute new councils.
The Union Territory of Ladakh is also scheduled to hold panchayat and municipal elections on November 21.