• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:40 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Ladakh New Districts: Five new districts will soon be carved out from the existing ones in the union territory of Ladakh, according to an announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Leh and Kargil are the only two districts in Ladakh as of now. The new districts will be named Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, Shah said on Monday. The present-day Ladakh came into existence with the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir by the second successive government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2019.

"In pursuit of PM Shri [Narendra Modi] Ji's vision to build a developed and prosperous Ladakh, the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) has decided to create five new districts in the union territory. The new districts, namely Zanskar, Drass, Sham, Nubra and Changthang, will take the benefits meant for the people to their doorsteps by bolstering governance in every nook and cranny. The Modi government is committed to creating abundant opportunities for the people of Ladakh," Shah posted from his personal handle on X (formerly Twitter).

The announcement came amidst growing demands from regional outfits for the grant of statehood to Ladakh. While the Centre has promised to eventually restore the statehood of J-K, the other union territory that was carved out of the state of the same name in 2019, no such promise has been made for Ladakh.

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The 90 Assembly constituencies spread across J-K are slated to go to the polls in three phases starting September 18.

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The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4. This will be the first Assembly election in present-day Jammu and Kashmir. The undivided Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its last Assembly polls in 2014.

(With inputs from agencies)