'Historic Milestone': BJP's Gyalson welcomes AHDC expansion to all 7 districts

Leh, Jul 13 (PTI) BJP leader Tashi Gyalson on Monday hailed the extension of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) framework to all seven districts of the Union Territory, and termed it a "historic milestone." The party said the decision would strengthen grassroots democracy and ensure greater public participation in decision-making. Gyalson, a former chairman-cum-chief executive councillor of the LAHDC Leh, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the move. Earlier in the day, the Union Territory Administration announced that an Autonomous Hill Development Council (AHDC) will be constituted in each of the region's seven districts, extending the existing framework of elected local self-governance beyond Leh and Kargil. Announcing the decision, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said a proposed Union Territory-level body under a customised Article 371 framework would preside over the seven Hill Councils, exercising legislative, executive, financial and administrative powers - a first-of-its-kind governance model tailored for Ladakh. Ladakh moved from two districts to seven in April 2026, when Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass were notified as new districts. Elected representation until now stayed with the two existing councils in Leh and Kargil. "The announcement fulfils a long-standing aspiration of the people for local self-governance. After the creation of the Union Territory in August 2019, the grant of domicile provisions and the formation of new districts, the extension of the LAHDC Act to all districts marks another historic milestone in Ladakh's administrative and democratic evolution," Gyalson said. He also welcomed the creation of 17 new tehsils, saying the move would strengthen grassroots governance by bringing administration closer to the people. The BJP leader also welcomed the creation of engineering wings and departmental divisions in all newly created districts, stating that the decision would improve development planning and ensure quicker execution of public works. Gyalson said the LAHDC model has proved to be more effective and flexible than the earlier Autonomous District Council (ADC) model and is best suited to Ladakh's unique geographical and administrative needs. He said empowering every district with an LAHDC would strengthen local governance and ensure greater public participation in decision-making. PTI TAS VN VN