# President clears way for Ladakh hill council elections in all eight districts

> President Droupadi Murmu promulgates regulation enabling elections to autonomous councils across Ladakh's newly expanded districts, but civil society questions the timing amid ongoing statehood talks.
- Title: President clears way for Ladakh hill council elections in all…
- Summary: President Droupadi Murmu promulgates regulation enabling elections to autonomous councils across Ladakh's newly expanded districts, but civil society…
- Keywords: ladakh, hill councils, lahdc, elections, vinai kumar saxena, kargil democratic alliance, statehood, sankoo district, news, politics, President, clears
- Source: The Hindu — https://thehindu.com/news/national/ladakh/president-promulgates-lahdc-regulation-paves-the-way-for-hill-council-polls-in-all-eight-districts-of-ladakh/article71604027.ece
- Author: Peerzada Ashiq
- Published: 2026-10-20T14:23:55+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ladakh, hill councils, lahdc, elections, vinai kumar saxena, kargil democratic alliance, statehood, sankoo district, news, politics
## President promulgates hill council regulation
President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Amendment Regulation two thousand twenty-six on October sixteenth, enabling elections to eight hill councils across Ladakh's eight districts.
## Record implementation time of six days
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena called the regulation historic, saying it was implemented in a record time of just six days. The Union Cabinet approved the amendments on October fourteenth.

> It was implemented in a record time of just six days
## Councils now cover all eight districts including Sankoo
The regulation paves the way for creation of LAHDC in all eight districts of Ladakh, including the newly created Sankoo district. Previously, Ladakh had only two hill councils in Kargil and Leh.
## Seat numbers and representation change
The amended regulation reduces constituencies from twenty-six seats in each council to a minimum of seven and maximum of twenty-four seats. It provides for nomination of four members from women and unrepresented communities.
## Saxena credits Modi and Shah
The Lieutenant Governor thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the landmark regulation, saying it will strengthen grassroots democracy, enhance local representation and promote inclusivity.
## Civil society questions timing of changes
The Kargil Democratic Alliance questioned the timing, saying the government made substantial changes to council composition and powers without consulting stakeholders while statehood negotiations are ongoing.
## KDA warns of weakened autonomy
KDA member Sajjad Kargilli said the changes raise serious questions about government commitment to dialogue and whether a settlement will secure meaningful autonomy for Ladakh or leave institutions subject to executive discretion.

> This raises serious questions about the government's commitment to the ongoing dialogue
## Key takeaway

President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the LAHDC Amendment Regulation on October sixteenth, enabling elections to hill councils in all eight Ladakh districts including newly created Sankoo, but the Kargil Democratic Alliance says the changes undermine ongoing negotiations for statehood.