Months after the Centre proposed a special constitutional provision for Ladakh, a meeting between Union Home Ministry officials and Ladakh representatives ended without a significant breakthrough on Thursday, with the two sides divided over key aspects of the proposed arrangement despite the ministry presenting a draft proposal.Ladakh leaders said there were “significant gaps” between the positions of the two sides, with the powers of the proposed elected legislature emerging as the principal sticking point. The two sides, however, have decided to meet again in New Delhi on October 22.This comes months after the Centre proposed a constitutional provision under ‘Article 371(K)’ to extend additional protections to Ladakh. Following a meeting of the sub-committee with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) earlier this month, deliberations have centred on the shape of this provision and a proposed UT-level body.Also Read | Explained: What is the Sixth Schedule, and can Ladakh be included under it?“We have not reached any conclusion,” said Chering Dorjay Lakrook, chairman of the Apex Body Leh (ABL), one of the two Ladakh bodies jointly spearheading the demand for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. “We stand by our main demands of the legislature and Article 371(K). We don’t allow any dilution in that. We hope that the promises made by the Centre in previous meetings will be fulfilled.”Leaders of the ABL and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) met Home Ministry officials in Leh on Thursday to try to conclude.Ladakh leaders said the ministry presented a draft proposal and gave a PowerPoint presentation.“The Home Ministry submitted its draft proposal. It is a lengthy proposal of 15 to 20 pages. They gave a PowerPoint presentation also. We have also submitted our proposal,” Lakrook said. “We could see a significant gap in these two (proposals). There has been no consensus on it. However, we said that any dialogue over it should happen soon. That’s why the talks would happen again on October 22.”Story continues below this adThe ABL represents people in Leh, while the KDA represents those in Kargil. The two bodies have jointly been fighting for Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh.Also Read | Explained: Ladakh, Article 371, and the Sixth Schedule of the ConstitutionThough the Centre is not yet willing to concede either demand, it has offered an alternative — a constitutional safeguard under Article 371(K) that would provide a governance framework and safeguards for the people of Ladakh. The two sides had also agreed to an elected legislature for Ladakh.However, over the past several months, the two sides have failed to reach a consensus on the proposals. Thursday’s meeting, too, ended inconclusively.“It (draft proposal presented by Home Ministry) is unsatisfactory and unacceptable,” Sajad Hussain Kargili, co-chairman of the KDA, told The Indian Express. “We are likely to get a soft copy by tomorrow (Friday) morning. We will study it and send our response by October 18.”Story continues below this adSources said the powers of the elected legislature were the main sticking point between the two sides. “The (draft) proposal isn’t clear on many points like the name of the body, the powers of its ministers, its constitutional validity and the subjects that would be under it,” said a senior Ladakh leader who was part of the talks.