Sonam Wangchuk likely to revisit stand on Cockroach Janata Party: Ladakh Lok Bhavan spokesman

The office of Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was likely to revisit his stand on Cockroach Janata Party and agreed to maintain “an air of positivity” in the Union Territory (UT).

Mr. Saxena met Mr. Wangchuk and his wife Gitanjali Angmo in Leh. A spokesman of the Lok Bhavan said, the meeting was held in the backdrop of the constructive dialogue in the Union Home Ministry.

“Mr. Wangchuk also said that he was unsure of the origins of the Cockroach Party and would study the motivations of its founders and revisit his stand, if necessary. He (Mr. Wangchuk) accepted that comparing the situation of Ladakh with Manipur was an error of judgement,” said the spokesman.

Mr. Wangchuk had expressed support for the Cockroach Janata Party movement and termed himself as an “honorary cockroach”. He also urged the Central government to address concerns raised by young people rather than suppressing online dissent.

According to the spokesman, Mr. Saxena and Mr. Wanchuk had a candid exchange. 

“We agreed that an air of positivity, both in terms of development initiatives and political dialogue, needs to be maintained,” the L-G was quoted as saying by the Lok Bhavan spokesman.

Mr. Saxena also cautioned Mr. Wangchuk “to abjure from weaving a misleading and provocative narrative, which vitiates public discourse.”

“Democratic expression must not be taken as license for fabricating falsehoods and rabble rousing. I also highlighted that repeated rallies and protests, despite positive developments initiated by the Centre, will have a negative impact on economic activities in the tourism space, which is the backbone of Ladakh,” said the L-G.

The Lok Bhavan spokesman said Mr. Wangchuk appreciated the positive development initiatives such as Him Sarovar project, restoration of Igoo Phey Canal, construction of Mahe – Topko Canal and massive plantation drives undertaken in the recent days.

The meeting between Mr. Saxena and Mr. Wanchuk was the first since the recent Ladakh-Centre talks generated hopes on May 22. In a fresh proposal, according to the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), the Centre offered constitutional safeguards under Article 371, instead of the Sixth Schedule, and a legislative body with a chief minister for Ladakh. The proposal offers enhanced legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers for local representatives of Ladakh.