Ladakh Union Territory Front

{{Short description|Political alliance supporting union-territory status for Ladakh in India}}

Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) was formed in 2002 as a conglomerate of political parties in Ladakh in India.{{cite web | last=Shakspo | first=Nawang Tsering | title=Ladakh's journey from Wazarat to Union Territory | website=Reach Ladakh | date=2020-03-19 | url=https://www.reachladakh.com/news/oped-page/ladakh-s-journey-from-wazarat-to-union-territory | access-date=2020-10-04}}{{cite web | last=Irfan | first=Shams | title=FAULTLINE LADAKH | website=Kashmir Life | date=2009-08-01 | url=https://kashmirlife.net/faultline-ladakh-361/ | access-date=2020-10-04}}{{cite web | title=Leh Observed Shutdown To Demand Union Territory | website=Kashmir Life | date=2018-11-26 | url=https://kashmirlife.net/leh-observed-shutdown-to-demand-union-territory-193223/ | access-date=2020-10-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ladakhis-ecstatic-after-government-proposes-union-territory-status/story-nnizyj4AaqjE3dPkOHhXXM.html|title=Ladakhis ecstatic after government proposes Union Territory status|date=5 August 2019|website=Hindustan Times}}

Objective

Its basic objective was to fight for the Union Territory status for Ladakh. A consortium of political parties formed in 2002 decided that a regional party shall be formed under a single flag and carry the struggle for the Union territory status for Ladakh. Things changed when few of the nominated candidates shifted sides and joined Indian National Congress (INC). Since then a kind of bipartisan politics begun in Ladakh between the LUTF and the Indian National Congress.

=Merger=

In 2010, when the elections for LAHDC, Leh, was round the corner, LUTF merged into Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Subsequently, the BJP won 4 out of 26 seats on the council in this election.

Fulfillment of demand

In August 2019, the Parliament of India passed an act by which Ladakh became a union territory on 31 October 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/ladakh-celebrates-1st-independence-day-after-becoming-union-territory-watch/1676609/|title=Ladakh celebrates '1st Independence Day' after becoming union territory – watch|date=15 August 2019}}

Support from Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit-Baltistan activist Senge H Sering supported Ladakh as separate Union Territory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/china-feels-threatened-by-indias-infra-building-in-ladakh-says-gilgit-activist-307143/amp|title=China feels threatened by India's infra building in Ladakh, says Gilgit activist , Pakistan News | wionews.com|website=www.wionews.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/india/article/poks-gilgit-baltistan-activist-demands-representation-in-indian-parliament/464643|title=We are part of India: PoK's Gilgit-Baltistan activist demands representation in Indian Parliament | India News|website=www.timesnownews.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/world/2019/nov/06/pakistan-illegally-occupied-pok-gilgit-baltistan-claims-activist-2057997.html|title=Pakistan illegally occupied PoK, Gilgit Baltistan, claims activist - The New Indian Express|website=www.newindianexpress.com|date=7 November 2019 }}