Protests in Ladakh entered their third day on Saturday.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) is holding an indefinite sit-in, backed by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA).
The groups want constitutional safeguards, an elected government for the region, and talks with the Centre to resume.
Ladakh is a Union Territory, which means it is run directly by the Centre, not as a state.
Key points
- The Leh Apex Body is on an indefinite sit-in demanding constitutional safeguards and an elected government.
- Some leaders want voters to take part in winter elections, while others say elections should wait.
- One side says talks with the Centre were advanced, while the other says the Centre has backtracked.
- The Centre's final decision on the proposed structure is still awaited.
Why are leaders divided over elections?
Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, a former chief of the Kargil hill council who has joined the BJP, urged people to vote.
He named panchayat, municipal and hill council polls.
Akhoon said elected representatives are needed to raise public problems.
He also said winter elections have been held in the past, so students leaving is not a real concern.
Sajjad Kargili, a senior activist and KDA leader, has a different view.
He accused the administration of undermining democracy through bureaucratic control.
What do both sides say about talks with the Centre?
Akhoon said talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had made good progress by October 15.
He said only a few differences remained, including the name of the elected body.
He claimed the Centre agreed in principle to a special arrangement under Article 371 of the Constitution.
This would give the elected body power to make laws on land and employment.
Karbalai, co-chairperson of the KDA, has a different view.
He said a meeting planned for October 22 was put off and that the Centre's offer gives most powers to the Lieutenant Governor.
He called this unacceptable.
- October 15Talks with MHA made good progress, Akhoon said; only a few differences remained.
- October 22A planned meeting with the Centre was put off, according to KDA co-chairperson Karbalai.
- Winter session of ParliamentAkhoon said the Centre was considering a law on the arrangement during this session.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
What happens next for the talks?
Akhoon said the Centre was considering a law on this during the winter session of Parliament.
The leaders want clear decisions first.
The sit-in is continuing, and it is not yet clear whether the Centre will agree to the leaders' demands.
Explainer
What happened before
- Ladakh was made a Union Territory without a legislature in 2019, after Article 370 was abrogated and the region was split from Jammu and Kashmir.
- Karbalai said the leaders have been negotiating with the Ministry of Home Affairs since 2021.
Why it matters
The outcome decides how Ladakh is governed and whether local people get a say over land, jobs and culture.
What to watch next
- A proposed round of talks on October 22 was put off, and the leaders want concrete decisions from the Centre.
- Akhoon said the Centre was considering legislation in the winter session of Parliament.
