Ladakh hill council to get new chairperson, National Conference leader Dr Jaffer Akhoon likely to bag post

In a recent meeting of the party’s Kargil unit, outgoing CEC Feroz Khan proposed the name of Dr Akhoon and the nomination was unanimously backed by all elected members of the party. “After thorough discussions… I have proposed Dr Akhoon’s name for CEC. This has been accepted by all elected members. We are ready for tomorrow’s vote,” Khan said.

Akhoon is the former chief medical officer, Kargil. He was elected from the Thasgam Thunia seat for the first time.

NC Kargil District President Haji Haneefa Jan, who is part of the coalition coordination committee, said that a meeting with coalition partner Congress has taken place and it has been decided that the NC will hold the position of the CEC first.

In the elections held on October 4, the NC had secured 12 seats, followed by the Congress at 10. Two seats each were in the tally of the BJP and Independents in the 26-member Council. Meanwhile, four members will also be nominated to the LAHDC.

The NC and the Congress had contested this election based on a pre-poll alliance and NC Vice-President Omar Abdullah had earlier stated that the position of the CEC will be shared by both parties for two and a half years each.

The positions of four executive councillors will also be shared between the two parties.

After the NC meeting, Jaffer Akhoon thanked party members and said, “We have a combination of experienced and young members. We will use this to work for the benefit of the people.” He also said the party will work with coalition partner Congress to run the Council effectively.

The Congress, meanwhile, said that an ‘Agenda of Alliance’ has been prepared by the coalition partners. “The position of Chairman of the council will be shared between INC (Congress) and NC. The NC will take this position first – from 18th October 2023 to 18th April 2026. Thereafter, the Congress will hold the position until the end of the term,” Congress leader Nasir Munshi said.

“One of the executive councillor positions, as per the LAHDC Act, 1995, reserved for principal religious minorities will be granted to the National Conference during the first half,” he added.

The departments allocated to the chairman and executive councillors will be equally shared between the two parties. “Both the INC and the NC pledge to provide a strong and sustainable Council that works for the betterment and development of the people of Kargil,” he added.

Meanwhile, the coalition partners will draft a common minimum program (CMP). The CMP will be formulated in consultation with the respective high commands to “outline the shared goals, priorities and policies of the coalition.”

Senior Congress leader Asgar Ali Karbalai said, “The BJP and the RSS used all their power to change the face of Kargil after 2019. However, the people of Kargil have rejected this and the BJP/RSS agenda. This is a victory for the INDIA alliance.”