Kavinder Gupta has resigned as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, ending a tenure of about nine months that began in July 2025.

Gupta, who took oath on July 18, 2025, was the Union Territory’s third lieutenant governor and the first politician to hold the post. His resignation comes as Ladakh continues to witness political mobilisation and debate over its administrative future and constitutional status.

Tenure amid growing unrest

Gupta’s time in office coincided with increasing unrest in the region, with several civil society groups stepping up protests over political representation and constitutional protections.

Organisations including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance have been leading demonstrations demanding full statehood for Ladakh, safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and job reservations for local residents.

Violent protests in 2025

The agitation escalated in September 2025 when demonstrations in Leh linked to the statehood movement turned violent. Clashes between protesters and security forces led to police firing that left four people dead and dozens injured.

Authorities subsequently imposed curfew and security restrictions in parts of the region to control the situation.

Roots of the movement

The protests are part of a wider political movement that gained momentum after Ladakh was carved out of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and brought under direct central administration.

Since then, local groups and political organisations have been pressing for greater autonomy and constitutional safeguards to protect the region’s identity, land and employment opportunities.