NEW DELHI: The prospects of early resumption of talks between the Centre and the Apex Body, Leh (ABL) on the latter’s demand for safeguards for Ladakh, have brightened with ABL agreeing to drop political parties’ representatives from its negotiating team and veteran leader Thupstan Chhewang consenting to lead the dialogue once again.Chhewang and Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora had resigned from key positions in ABL ahead of a crucial meeting with the home ministry in July this year. This was after the home ministry, following a round of talks with Ladakh representatives in May 2025, introduced a new reservation and domicile policy for the Union Territory, guaranteeing 85% quota to local domiciles in jobs and reserving one-third seats for women in Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (LAHDC).Jora withdrew from the apex body soon after, affirming the Congress’ commitment to securing statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, ostensibly with an eye on upcoming LAHDC elections. Chhewang, on the other hand, objected to “partisan agendas” of some ABL constituents and insisted on the talks remaining “non-political”. These developments had put the talks in a limbo.With the ABL now agreeing to exclude political parties from its delegation negotiating Ladakh’s safeguards, in a move to depoliticise the process, Chhewang has finally agreed to return to lead the talks. The decision follows a resolution by the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA), urging separation of politics from ABL and persuasion of Chhewang to head the delegation.ABL has now requested the Centre to resume dialogue, amid concerns that political influence and upcoming LAHDC Leh polls had hindered negotiations. Meanwhile, Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status has evoked mixed response, with many netas favouring talks. “Given the changed circumstances, the home ministry is inclined to call the APL to the negotiating table soon,” a central govt officer told TOI.
