Giving a new twist to the unfolding political developments in the Kargil district of the Union Territory of Ladakh, 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 came just four days after Akhoon secured the support of two BJP councillors and four BJP-backed nominated councillors to muster a majority in the 30-member House and defeat the Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion against him.
The decision was announced through the party's official X handle, which said that NC 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 post said.
Akhoon Retained Majority With BJP Support
Sources said the National Conference leadership was unhappy with Akhoon's decision to seek the support of the BJP and four BJP-backed nominated councillors to get the LAHDC-Kargil budget passed, bypassing its coalition partner, the Congress.
During Tuesday's meeting of the council, chaired by Akhoon, all 12 National Conference councillors, six BJP-backed members (including nominated councillors), one Congress councillor and one Independent councillor participated in the proceedings and passed the budget.
With the support of 20 councillors in the 30-member House, Akhoon demonstrated his majority and successfully thwarted the Congress' attempt to remove him from office.
Congress Moved No-Confidence Motion in May
The political crisis in LAHDC-Kargil began in May after the Congress, backed by five dissident National Conference councillors, moved a no-confidence motion against Akhoon. The Congress alleged that Akhoon had refused to hand over the post of chief executive councillor in accordance with the post-poll power-sharing agreement between the two alliance partners.
The no-confidence motion was signed by 16 councillors—11 from the Congress and five from the National Conference—and submitted to Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Rakesh Kumar, with a request to initiate proceedings under the provisions of the LAHDC Act.
Following the move, Kargil Congress president Asgar Ali Karbalai demanded Akhoon's resignation and the transfer of power to the Congress.
Power-Sharing Agreement Triggered Standoff
In the October 2023 LAHDC-Kargil elections, the National Conference emerged as the single-largest party with 12 seats, while the Congress won 10 seats in the 26-member elected council. The BJP and Independents secured two seats each. Four nominated councillors, appointed by the government, take the council's total strength to 30.
Following the fractured verdict, the National Conference and the Congress formed a coalition with an agreement to rotate the post of chief executive councillor every two and a half years.
Under the agreement, the National Conference was to head the council during the first half of the five-year term, after which the Congress would assume leadership.
The arrangement was announced by Omar Abdullah, then a senior National Conference leader and now the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Under the pact, Akhoon was elected Chairperson cum Chief Executive Councillor on October 18, 2023, and completed his two-and-a-half-year tenure on April 18, 2026.
However, Akhoon refused to step down after completing his tenure, delaying the swearing-in of a Congress nominee as Chief Executive Councillor, as envisaged under the coalition agreement.
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 BJP, taking its effective strength to six. Independents hold two seats. The majority mark in the council is 16.
