Ladakh groups drop statehood demand, seek elected legislature and Chief Minister

LEH — The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have dropped their demand for full statehood for Ladakh and are now seeking a full-fledged elected legislature with their own MLAs and a Chief Minister, LAB chairman Chering Dorjey Lakruk said.

“We have abandoned the demand for statehood,” Dorjey told news agency KNT, saying the focus of the LAB and KDA had shifted to securing a full-fledged elected government within the existing Union Territory framework.

He said the proposed arrangement should include an elected Legislative Assembly, elected MLAs and a Chief Minister heading the government.

Dorjey also said the elected government should have control over police and law and order, describing this as an important part of the demand being placed before the Centre.

The development comes amid ongoing talks between the Centre and representatives of the LAB and KDA over the future governance structure of Ladakh.

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The Centre has been discussing a possible special constitutional arrangement for Ladakh, including an elected UT-level body. The Ladakh groups, however, have been seeking wider legislative and executive powers for the elected institution.

Dorjey said the next meeting between the Centre and representatives of the Ladakh groups has been scheduled for the first week of October.

Control over police and law and order has remained among the contentious issues in discussions with the Centre. Ladakh representatives have maintained that an elected government would not be fully empowered if key areas of governance remained outside its control.

The Centre’s proposed framework remains under discussion, and the final powers and structure of any elected body have yet to be settled.