Kargil shuts down against winter polls as SEC announces December 4 election date

Kargil district observed a complete shutdown in protest against elections scheduled during winter. The State Election Commission announced December 4 as the polling date for the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils. The Kargil Democratic Alliance organized the shutdown, citing concerns over severe cold impacting voter and candidate participation. The last date for filing nomination papers is November 17, with scrutiny on November 18 and withdrawal until November 20. The KDA's protests included a candlelight march under the banner 'Save Democracy', highlighting the challenges posed by harsh winter conditions in Ladakh. The KDA opposes the election timing due to extreme temperatures, which can drop to minus 10 to minus 15 degrees Celsius. The alliance's actions reflect significant local discontent regarding the electoral process amid winter hardships.