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As Ladakh L-G’s financial powers are curtailed, Centre’s move ruffles local BJP unit

A Ladakh BJP delegation has asked the party’s national leadership to ‘restore and re-delegate’ financial powers of L-G for ‘smooth administrative functioning and timely delivery of public welfare initiatives’

3 min readSrinagarDec 10, 2025 08:14 AM IST

Ladakh L-G’s financial powers curtailed, Centre’s move ruffles local BJP unit

Now, the authority to allocate funds for any project lies solely with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), with all approvals to be granted by the Centre.

The Ladakh administration in late November revised the delegation of financial powers in the Union Territory, taking away financial powers from the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) and the administration itself. Now, the authority to allocate funds for any project lies solely with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), with all approvals to be granted by the Centre.

The move has been met with resistance from several quarters, including the local BJP unit.

On Monday, a delegation of the Ladakh BJP – led by state party chief Tashi Khachu along with Tashi Gyalson, the former chief executive of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, and state party vice-president Tonyot Tashi – met BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh, at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

The delegation requested the intervention of the party leadership to “restore and re-delegate” the financial powers of the Ladakh L-G to ensure “smooth administrative functioning and timely delivery of public welfare initiatives”.

The delegation also urged the restoration of the Capital Expenditure (Capex) Budget for Ladakh and its reinstatement during the Revised Estimates (RE), which is the mid-year adjustment to the Budget, to enable the “resolution of pending liabilities and continued development momentum across the region”.

Earlier, the power to sanction projects and schemes up to Rs 100 crore was vested with the L-G and administrative secretaries could approve projects up to Rs 20 crore. Additionally, department heads, including Deputy Commissioners or Chief Executives of the Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil, could approve projects up to Rs 5 crore. All such financial approvals are now under the MHA.

Separately, on Tuesday, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, ex-BJP MP and former chief executive of the LAHDC Leh, met Ladakh L-G Kavinder Gupta to submit an official representation requesting that all tender works up to Rs 20 crore be reserved exclusively for contractors registered under the administration of Ladakh.

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The appeal comes at a time when Ladakh is witnessing wider demands for protection of local rights, including the recently implemented 85% job reservation for Ladakh residents and provisions reserving one-third of the seats in Hill Development Councils for women.

Ladakh Congress working president Asgar Ali Karbalai told The Indian Express that though the Centre makes statements showing solidarity with Ladakh, “there is total lack of sincerity on the ground.”

Terming the move “a further disempowerment” amid the ongoing fight for greater autonomy in the region, Karbalai said “while we are demanding Sixth Schedule and a legislature, the Centre is taking away what little powers we have.” He also questioned whether the move could be replicated in any other state or UT of the country, calling it an “unfortunate” decision.

Naveed Iqbal

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

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