Kargil politics heats up as NC expels Chief Executive Councillor Akhoon

In a major political shake-up in Ladakh, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) on Saturday expelled LAHDC Kargil Chief Executive Councillor Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon from the party for six years, accusing him of anti-party activities and indiscipline.

Despite the expulsion, Akhoon reportedly asserted that his position as CEC remains secure, claiming the backing of the BJP, some Congress, independent and National Conference councillors.

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An announcement by the JKNC said that the General Secretary, Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar, has ordered the removal of Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC Kargil, from the basic membership of the party for a period of six years.

“The action has been taken in view of his anti-party activities and for causing indiscipline within the party”, he said.

However, Akhoon reportedly said that he will continue to be the Chief Executive Councillor as he has the support of the BJP, some National Conference councillors and Congress as well as independent councillors.

Alkhoon had earlier this week landed the JKNC in embarrassment after he got the LAHDC-K budget passed with the support of the BJP while NC’s pre-poll partner Congress boycotted the budget session. His action came ahead of the JKNC’s Delhi protest on 20 July, in which the Congress is supporting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

In the LAHDC-K, consisting of 30 councillors, all 12 belonging to JKNC, 6 from BJP, and one each from Congress and Independent, supported Akhoon in passing the Rs.255 crore budget. After the budget was passed, Akhoon said the vote shows he still has majority support, as a result of which the no-confidence motion has automatically collapsed. He pointed out that the rivals who claimed to have 16 votes against him could not prove their majority in the House.

Discord between the NC and Congress, which jointly contested the LAHDC-K polls in 2023, has been continuing for the past few months, when, as per the earlier agreed power-sharing agreement of the two parties holding the post of Chairman cum CEC for two and a half years each, was reportedly broken by the JKNC as Akhoon refused to step down on completion of his term. The first term went to the NC, and Akhoon was elected as the Chairman. Congress had to hold the post of Chairman-cum-CEC for the rest of the two and a half years, with Nassir Munshi tipped to head the Council.

A crisis gripped the LAHDC-K on 14 May after 16 Councillors signed a no-confidence motion against Akhoon, which was a majority in the Council of 30 members. They include nine from Congress, five from NC and two Independents. In the Council, NC has 12 Councillors, Congress 10 and BJP 6. That apart, there are two Independents.