Politics of Ladakh | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Polity type | Union territory of India |
| Constitution | Constitution of India |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of state | |
| Title | Lieutenant Governor |
| Currently | Kavinder Gupta |
| Appointer | President of India |
| Judicial branch | |
| Name | High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh |
| Chief judge | N. Kotiswar Singh |
Politics of Ladakh is exercised within democratic setup of the Indian-administered union territory of Ladakh. Major power centres are Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh [1] and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil [2] alongside Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency. [3] Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are major political parties. [4] Ladakhi religious organisations like Ladakh Buddhist Association, Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust and Anjuman-e-Jamiat-ul-Ulama Asna Asharia have major influences as well. [5] [6] [7]
After collapse of Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh, Ladakh became part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir before the Dogra–Tibetan War. [8] [9] After 1947, Ladakh continued to be part of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh Union Territory Front was formed demanding Ladakh to be formed separate Union territory. [5] Ladakh was created as separate union territory in 2019 with celebrations in Leh. [10]
Major political parties are: