In a shocking development, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta has resigned from his position, bringing his nine-month tenure to an end. He had taken charge of the office on July 18, 2025.
Gupta, who became the Union Territory’s third Lieutenant Governor and the first politician to hold the position, submitted his resignation just as he was nearing the one-year mark of his appointment.
According to sources, Gupta tendered his resignation on Thursday evening. The reasons behind his decision were not immediately known.
Gupta’s tenure saw growing regional pressure, as influential bodies such as the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance led widespread demonstrations.
These organisations have been constantly demanded full statehood for Ladakh, constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule, and dedicated employment quotas for the local population.
Regional tensions peaked in September 2025 when demonstrations demanding statehood in Leh turned violent. The clashes resulted in four deaths and several injuries after police intervened, prompting authorities to impose strict curfews and deploy heavy security across the affected districts.
The protest dates back to 2019, when Ladakh was carved out as a separate Union Territory.
Since then, the shift from statehood to direct central administration has led to growing demands for political autonomy and legal safeguards to protect the region’s tribal communities and fragile environment.
Gupta’s resignation comes at a time when political debate and grassroots mobilisation over Ladakh’s administrative future and constitutional status continue to intensify.
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