Centre promised more legislative powers for Ladakh, says delegation
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed a new mechanism to give Ladakh more legislative, financial and administrative powers within the framework of the existing Union Territory, according to civil society members who attended a sub-committee meeting with MHA officials on Friday, May 22, 2026.
Members told Hindu It was said that the talks were positive and that the MHA would soon send a draft stating the proposed changes and that this would be within the framework of the “UT with legislative power”.
A civil society delegation from Ladakh comprising representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) met MHA officials and Ladakh Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra on Friday, May 22, 2026. The delegation also included climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was released from detention under the National Security Act (NSA) on March 14.
LAB co-organizer Cherring Dorjay Lakruk said: Hindu He said MHA had proposed a legislature but did not want to call it “Statehood” as the move would put the burden of revenue generation on Ladakh and the Center would not be able to allocate funds.
“We have been told that Statehood may be considered once Ladakh is financially sound. The duties of the Chief Secretary and other administrative functions will be decided by the elected body. It is not clear how the elected members will be referred to as Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) or anything else. We are waiting for the MHA’s proposal. We also need to send a proposal from our side,” Mr. Lakruk said.
LAB and KDA, representing Leh and Kargil districts respectively, said in a statement that they have reached an agreement in principle with the Union government on providing constitutional safeguards in line with Article 371 A, F and G of the Constitution (applicable to Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram). Article 371 deals with “Temporary, Provisional and Special Provisions” and is available in 12 States.
Asked what has changed now as the Union government had proposed such safeguards earlier too, Mr. Lakruk said, “Earlier, they did not propose legislative powers or elected representatives for Ladakh.”
long-standing desires
“During the meeting, both the LAB and the KDA reiterated the long-standing aspirations of the people of Ladakh for the restoration of democracy, constitutional safeguards and demand for Statehood and Sixth Schedule protection reflecting the common commitment of all stakeholders towards an inclusive and sustainable governance framework for the region,” the statement said.
He added that in the proposed model, “legislative, executive and financial powers will vest in representatives elected through the legislature at the Union Territory level.”
“All bureaucrats of the UT, including the Chief Secretary, will come under the executive head of the UT-level elected body (who is proposed to be the Chief Minister),” the statement said.
Representatives of the delegation said that MHA officials said that the only reason why Ladakh cannot be made a state at present is because it does not have sufficient sources of revenue to meet expenses such as employee salaries.
finer details
KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili said KDA and LAB will work on finer operational details along with MHA in consultation with legal and constitutional experts.
Former LAB chairman and former BJP MP Thupstan Chhewang also attended the meeting. He said that the terminology of the new constitutional exemption will be finalized through necessary negotiations. He demanded the withdrawal of cases against people arrested for the violence that took place in the city of Leh on September 24, 2025, and requested additional financial compensation for the families of the four dead people and those injured.
A senior government official said the Center was committed to democratic representation and various models were being discussed, including safeguards under Article 371 of the Constitution.
Since 2020, KDA and LAB have been demanding constitutional guarantees such as Statehood and inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, thereby giving it tribal status. Ladakh, which was earlier a part of Jammu and Kashmir, became a Union Territory in 2019 after the special status given to J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution was abolished.
After the violence in Leh city on September 24, 2025, when four people, including a Kargil war veteran, died in police firing, talks with the Union government reached an impasse. The last high-powered committee meeting, chaired by Home Minister Nityanand Rai, remained inconclusive.
The talks on Friday, May 22, 2026, followed the release of Mr. Wangchuk from detention under NSA on March 14 and the announcement by Ladakh LG Vinai Saxena on April 26 that he had approved notification for five new districts – Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass. The creation of new districts was announced by Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2024.
It was published – 23 May 2026 12:02 IST
