The polls are held against the backdrop of a prolonged agitation in Leh and Kargil, with political and civil society groups demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule. Schedule for eight LAHDC elections in Ladakh announced with December 4 polling amid winter-time Opposition calls for postponement. State election commissioner Sudhanshu Pandey announced the timeline under Rule 12 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (Rules),.