The Union Territory of Ladakh administration has set the process in motion for holding Panchayat elections by constituting an Election Cell at the UT Secretariat for ensuring smooth conduct of the polls. Panchayats in Ladakh, like Jammu and Kashmir, had completed their term in January 2024.
An order issued by the UT Ladakh administration today designated Shashanka Ala, an IAS officer and Administrative Secretary, Rural Development Department and Chief Electoral Officer, Panchayats and five more officers in the Election Cell for ensuring smooth conduct of forthcoming Panchayat elections in the UT of Ladakh.
Five other officials nominated in the Election Cell are Kaneez Fatima, Joint Director, Finance Department, Diskit Lamo, Tonyot Gyalson, Abdul Rashid and Sonam Stobgais.
As per the order, the Election Cell has been mandated for effective management of electoral roll updation exercise and conducting Panchayat elections in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
“The Election Cell shall work under the overall supervision of the Administrative Secretary RD&PR Department, who has been designated as Chief Electoral Officer, Panchayats vide an order issued by the Election Commission for Union Territories, New Delhi. The officers/officials shall be deemed to be deputed to the Election Cell during the period of Panchayat polls,” the order read.
There are a total of 193 Panchayats in the UT of Ladakh including 98 in Kargil district and 95 in Leh.
Last Panchayat elections to Ladakh were held in October-November 2018 when it was third division of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Panchayats completed their term in January 2024.
This will be for the first time that Panchayat elections will be held in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
After becoming the UT, Ladakh has witnessed elections to Autonomous Hill Development Councils of Leh and Kargil.
