NEW DELHI: Ladakh's Chief Electoral Officer has prohibited political dharnas, protests, sit-ins and rallies within the municipal limits of Leh and Kargil during the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) period, drawing opposition from regional leaders who argue that the December 4 Hill Council elections could prevent people who migrate during winter from exercising their right to vote.
In an order issued on Wednesday, Chief Electoral Officer Rahul Sharma said such gatherings could intimidate voters, disturb public order and undermine the conditions necessary for free and fair elections. The restriction applies to the Municipal Committees of Leh and Kargil, where the MCC came into force on October 23 following the election notification. It will remain in force until the completion of the municipal election process.
The order directs the district election officers and superintendents of police in both districts to ensure its strict implementation. Any violation could invite proceedings under the relevant laws and provisions of the MCC.
The restriction came a day after the election authorities announced December 4 as the polling date for the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDCs), amid a shutdown in Kargil against holding elections during winter and a boycott call by three organisations in Leh over the timing of the local body polls.
Leaders of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), which have been campaigning for statehood and special constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, issued a joint video appeal along with Ladakh MP Haneefa Jan and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
They appealed to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and people across the country to intervene against what they described as an attempt to impose the elections on Ladakh.
"Ladakhis have supported the country in all wars. Today Ladakh needs your support," Wangchuk said, describing the appeal as an effort to seek intervention before launching an agitation.
The leaders argued that holding elections in December could affect voter participation, claiming that between a quarter and half of Ladakh's population migrates to other parts of the country during winter.
Wangchuk also cited the region's extreme weather conditions, saying temperatures could fall below minus 30 degrees Celsius and that snowfall was forecast during the week of the elections.
Jan urged the administration to postpone the polls until March or April and said he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his intervention.
On Wednesday evening, Ladakh Police removed Wangchuk from a protest site in Leh and escorted him to his residence. Police said the preventive action was taken in compliance with prohibitory orders regulating public gatherings within Leh Municipality during the ongoing election process.
(with inputs from media organisations)