 Early Times Report
Jammu, July 18: In a dramatic escalation of the political crisis in Ladakh’s Kargil district, the National Conference (NC) on Saturday expelled Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon from the party’s primary membership for six years, citing anti-party activities and indiscipline. The action comes just four days after Akhoon retained control of the 30-member LAHDC-Kargil by securing the support of two BJP councillors and four BJP-backed nominated councillors, defeating a Congress-backed no-confidence motion and exposing deep cracks in the National Conference-Congress alliance. The decision was announced through the National Conference’s official X handle, which said party General Secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar had ordered Akhoon’s expulsion.
“The action has been taken in view of his anti-party activities and for causing indiscipline within the party,” the NC said.
The expulsion is widely seen as the party leadership’s response to Akhoon’s decision to rely on BJP-backed councillors to push through the LAHDC-Kargil budget despite opposition from its coalition partner, the Congress.
During Tuesday’s special meeting of the council, chaired by Akhoon, all 12 National Conference councillors participated alongside six BJP-backed members, including four nominated councillors, one Congress councillor and one Independent. The budget was passed with the support of 20 councillors in the 30-member House, allowing Akhoon to prove his majority and effectively neutralise the Congress’ attempt to unseat him.
The development marked a significant political setback for the Congress, which had expected the implementation of the coalition’s rotational power-sharing arrangement.
The political standoff began in May when the Congress, supported by five dissident National Conference councillors, moved a no-confidence motion against Akhoon, accusing him of reneging on the post-poll agreement that required him to hand over the office of Chief Executive Councillor after completing the National Conference’s two-and-a-half-year tenure.
The motion, signed by 16 councillors—11 from the Congress and five from the National Conference—was submitted to Deputy Commissioner Kargil Rakesh Kumar for action under the provisions of the LAHDC Act.
Following the move, Kargil Congress president Asgar Ali Karbalai demanded Akhoon’s resignation and insisted that the Chief Executive Councillor’s post be handed over to the Congress in accordance with the coalition agreement.
The present political turmoil has its roots in the October 2023 LAHDC-Kargil elections, in which the National Conference emerged as the single-largest party with 12 seats, followed by the Congress with 10 seats in the 26-member elected council. The BJP and Independents won two seats each, while four nominated councillors appointed by the government took the council’s total strength to 30.
Following the fractured verdict, the National Conference and the Congress formed a post-poll alliance and agreed to rotate the post of Chief Executive Councillor every two-and-a-half years. Under the arrangement, the National Conference was to lead the council during the first half of the five-year term, with the Congress taking over thereafter.
The power-sharing formula was announced by Omar Abdullah, then a senior National Conference leader and now the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Akhoon was elected Chairperson-cum-Chief Executive Councillor on October 18, 2023, and completed his agreed tenure on April 18, 2026.
However, he refused to relinquish office after completing his term, triggering a prolonged political confrontation with the Congress and ultimately leading to the no-confidence motion.
With the latest expulsion, the National Conference has publicly distanced itself from Akhoon even as he continues to head the LAHDC-Kargil with the backing of BJP-supported councillors, setting the stage for further political uncertainty in the strategically significant hill council.
At present, the National Conference has 12 councillors in the 30-member House, while the Congress has 10. The BJP has two elected councillors, and four nominated councillors support the party, taking its effective strength to six. Independents hold the remaining two seats, with the majority mark fixed at 16. |
