PTI, Jammu. Union Territory Ladakh has decided to expand the municipalities of Leh and Kargil to 17 wards from 13, while the number of panchayats in delimitation is also expected to increase to 193 as the tenure of both the local bodies expires. For this reason, elections can be held in Ladakh also next summer.

Official sources confirmed that the terms of Leh and Kargil municipalities, the only two urban local bodies in the Union Territory of Ladakh, will end this month, followed by 193 panchayats – 98 in Kargil and 95 in Leh. Elections to both the bodies were scheduled to be held in October-November this year, but were postponed due to the delimitation exercise for municipalities after the Kargil Hill Development Council elections and the onset of winter season.

Administration ordered delimitation exercise

The Union Territory Administration of Ladakh has ordered the delimitation exercise for Leh and Kargil municipalities and the number of their wards is expected to increase from 13 to 17. Officials said the number of wards is likely to increase as more population comes from rural areas around both Leh and Kargil municipalities. He said that a high level committee has already been constituted by the UT administration to increase the number of wards.

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Municipal corporation and panchayat elections may be held in summer

Officials said delimitation of panchayat wards may also be ordered by the UT administration. This may also increase the number of Panchayats in the Union Territory. However, the delimitation exercise will delay holding municipal and panchayat elections in Ladakh like the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

In the next few days, cold weather will set in in Ladakh and the season usually opens in April when parliamentary elections are held. According to officials, municipal corporation and panchayat elections in Ladakh will be held either along with the Lok Sabha elections or after that in June-July.

The term of municipal and panchayat elections is ending in a few days.

Officials said the five-year tenure of municipalities and panchayats in the Union Territory will end in the next few days as their elections were held in October-December 2018 when Ladakh was part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

In Jammu and Kashmir too, the tenure of all urban local bodies will end this year, while the tenure of Panchayats will end on January 9, 2024. The elections to both these bodies in Jammu and Kashmir were delayed due to the provision of reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and to correct discrimination among voters in different wards of municipal bodies.

BJP representation on one Lok Sabha seat in Ladakh

The number of municipalities in Ladakh is limited to two as Leh and Kargil districts have autonomous hill development councils with 30 seats, of which 26 are elected and four nominated. Ladakh is the only Lok Sabha seat currently represented by the BJP. The Autonomous Hill Development Council is ruled by the BJP with majority while the Kargil Council was recently formed jointly by the National Conference and Congress.

However, in the Hill Development Council Kargil elections, NC won 12 seats, followed by Congress 10, BJP and Independents two seats each. The Union Territory Ladakh administration has not yet nominated four councilors for the Hill Council, which will increase the BJP’s strength. Before the elections, NC and Congress had formed a post-poll alliance, although they contested against each other on most of the seats.