Jaffar Akhone set to be Kargil hill Council head as NC, INC sign AoA

KARGIL: National Conference’s Dr Mohammad Jaffar Akhone, elected councillor from Thasgam Thuina constituency is all set to be elected as the chief executive councillor (CEC) of the fifth Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, as he was unanimously selected as the party’s choice for the top post, a day ahead of the formal election to the post.

Soon after the recently elected Councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, were sworn in today at the Syed Mehdi Auditorium Hall in Kargil in function organised by Election Authority, the NC councillors hurdled into a formal meeting.

“In the meeting, outgoing Councillor Feroz Ahmad Khan proposed the name of Dr Mohammad Jaffar Akhone as its candidate for the post of Chief Executive Councillor-cum-Chairman, which was agreed to by the Councillors unanimously,” a party leader informed.

The NC, along with pre-poll alliance partner Congress held a meeting Tuesday evening, where an agenda of alliance was signed between them, formalising the first of the two equal terms at the top post to the NC.

The members of the coalition coordination committee designated by both the INC and NC for formation of pre and post alliance for the 5th LAHDC general election 2023 met this evening and formalised the agenda of alliance, a Congress leader informed.

“Five members from INC led by Nasir Hussain Munshi President DCC Kargil and six members from NC led by its Kargil president Haji Mohammad Hanifa Jan signed the AoA. It was counter signed by Qamar Ali Akhone, Provincial president of NC for Ladakh, and Asgar Ali Karbalai, working president of UT Congress Committee Kargil,” he added.

As per the AoA, the NC will hold the first term of CEC for two and a half year, starting from 18 October 2023 till 18 April 2026, followed by Congress.

Besides, there will be two Executive Councillors appointed by each party, ensuring equal representation, said the AoA.

“One of the Executive Councillor positions, as per the LAHDC Act 1995, reserved for principal religious minorities will be granted to the NC in the first term. In the second two and a half years, the reserved Executive Councillor position will automatically be allocated to the INC,” it said.

Both the INC and NC pledge to jointly provide a strong and sustainable council that works for the betterment and development of the people of Kargil.

The AoA said that after the formation of the Executive Council, a Common Minimum Program will be drafted and formulated in consultation with the respective party high command and will outline the shared goals, priorities and policies of the coalition for the benefit of Kargil’s residents.

The NC and Congress had together won 22 out of 26 seats in the council, while BJP bagged two seats and an equal number of seats were won by two independent candidates.

Earlier, the recently elected Councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, were sworn in today at the Syed Mehdi Auditorium Hall in Kargil in function organised by Election Authority.

Principle, District and Session Judge Kargil, Iqbal Ahmed Masoodi who is prescribed authority administered oath to 26 elected Councillors of respective constituencies including Abdul Samadh, Abdul Wahid, Mohd Jawad, Kacho Mohammad Feroz, Abdul Hadi, Aga Ai-nul-huda, Stanzin Gigmet, Punchock Tashi, Stanzin Lakpa, Altaf Hussain, Haji Mohammad Abass, Khadim Hussain, Mohd Amin, Manzoor Hussain, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Nasir Hussain Munshi, Syed Mujataba Mossavi, Syed Ali, Mohammad Sajjad Khan, Ghulam Haider, Ashiq Ali, Dr. Mohammad Jaffar Akhone, Zakir Hussain, Liyaqat Ali Khan and Padma Dorje.

On the occasion of oath taking ceremony, Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Election Authority Kargil, Shrikant Suse, Special Judicial Mobile Magistrate Kargil, Shafiq Mushtaq Lone, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Wani, SSP Kargil Stanzin Noorbu besides former Cabinet Ministers, Former Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), representatives of various religious organizations, members of various Political Parties, along with district officers were present.