CS Kundra reviews preparedness for Panchayat polls in Ladakh
Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ashish Kundra, today chaired a meeting to review preparations for the forthcoming Panchayat Elections 2026 in Ladakh, in the presence of officials of the State Election Commission, Chief Electoral Officer, Ladakh, Director General of Police, Ladakh, Secretary, Secretary Rural Development Department, and all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the districts.
The meeting reviewed election preparedness, operational arrangements and logistical requirements, with emphasis on meticulous planning, inter-departmental coordination and timely completion of all necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth, secure and orderly conduct of the electoral process.
At the outset, Secretary, Rural Development Department, Ms. Nidhi Malik, made a detailed presentation on the overall preparedness for the Panchayat Elections 2026, covering the number of blocks, Sarpanch and Panch constituencies, polling locations, Returning Officers (ROs), election schedule, logistical requirements and deployment of personnel.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the preparedness of the concerned departments at each stage of the election process, including nomination procedures, availability of election materials and ballot boxes, appointment and training of polling personnel, and preparation of polling-party deployment schedules. He stressed the need for daily monitoring of nominations and complaints, timely submission of election-related reports, and regular coordination with the concerned election authorities. He also directed the officers to ensure that all prescribed election materials and polling kits are arranged and dispatched well in advance.
The meeting also discussed the identification and security of strong rooms and counting centres at district and block levels. The Chief Secretary emphasised the need for secure storage of election materials, adequate security arrangements in coordination with the Police Department, and proper planning for the movement and deployment of polling parties. He called for clear and standardised procedures for transportation, route planning, zonal arrangements and reporting to ensure uniformity across districts.
Taking stock of logistical challenges, particularly in remote and snow-bound areas, the Chief Secretary directed the officers to identify polling locations that may face accessibility issues and prepare appropriate contingency plans. These plans should account for road and weather conditions, snow clearance, alternative routes, advance movement of polling parties wherever necessary, and adequate arrangements for food, heating, accommodation and communication. He also underscored the need to assess transport requirements in advance to ensure that polling personnel reach their designated locations safely and on schedule.
The Chief Secretary further reviewed arrangements relating to manpower rationalisation, deployment of teachers and other government personnel on election duty, training schedules, polling-party dispatch, law-and-order preparedness, excise arrangements and coordination at border posts. He called for a coordinated, district-wise assessment of expenditure, logistical requirements and operational preparedness, along with timely finalisation of movement plans and reporting formats. The concerned officers were directed to maintain regular communication with the Secretariat and submit daily updates on nominations and other key election-related developments.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police, Ladakh, Anand Jain; Secretary, Rural Development Department, Ms. Nidhi Malik; Secretary, Finance, Tsewang Tharchin; Chief Electoral Officer, Ladakh, Rahul Sharma; Secretary, General Administration Department, Rudra P. T. Goud; Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Romil Singh Donk; and other senior officers and officials concerned with election preparedness.