New Delhi: The Union government has entered detailed discussions on how the new governing body for Ladakh should be structured and what it ought to be called, sources confirmed this week. The deliberations took place during a key meeting that brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, representatives of Ladakh's parliamentary delegation, and various stakeholders from the Ladakh region.
Ladakh, which became a separate Union Territory in October 2019 following the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, has seen sustained agitations demanding a elected legislative assembly and full council of ministers with greater control over land, resources, and local employment. The Central government, acknowledging these aspirations, has been conducting consultations to chart a path forward while ensuring the strategic interests of the border region are safeguarded.
The current talks are understood to focus on two fundamental questions: what form should the proposed body take, and what title should it carry. There have been reports that the Centre is weighing options between establishing a territorial council with limited legislative powers or a body modelled on the existing Delhi system, though neither option has been finalised.
Ladakh Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha seats — Leh and Kargil — have been actively participating in these exploratory conversations, reiterating the region's unique demographic, cultural, and strategic concerns. Local political groups and civil society organisations have also submitted memorandums outlining their vision for self-governance.
The discussions come against the backdrop of continued protests by Ladakhi youth and elder groups who have periodically blockaded roads and staged dharnas demanding inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and a state-like status. The government is expected to announce its decision in due course after further rounds of consultation with all concerned parties.
