Kargil: The National Conference (NC) on Saturday expelled LAHDC-Kargil Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Dr. Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon from the party’s primary membership for six years, accusing him of anti-party activities and indiscipline amid an escalating political crisis in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil.
The decision was announced through the party’s official X handle, stating that NC General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar had ordered Akhoon’s expulsion for “anti-party activities and causing indiscipline within the party.”
The move comes days after Akhoon survived a Congress-backed no-confidence motion by securing the support of the BJP and BJP-backed nominated councillors, a development that deepened the rift within the NC-Congress alliance.
According to sources, the NC leadership was unhappy with Akhoon’s decision to rely on BJP support to retain his majority and get the council’s budget passed instead of resolving differences with its alliance partner, the Congress.
During the recent council session, Akhoon demonstrated his majority by securing the backing of 20 councillors in the 30-member House, including all 12 NC councillors, six BJP and BJP-backed nominated members, one Congress councillor and one Independent. The show of strength effectively defeated the Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion.
The political standoff began in May after the Congress, supported by five dissident NC councillors, moved a no-confidence motion against Akhoon, alleging that he had failed to honour the post-poll rotational power-sharing agreement between the two alliance partners.
Under the agreement reached after the October 2023 LAHDC-Kargil elections, the National Conference and Congress had agreed to share the post of Chief Executive Councillor for two-and-a-half years each during the council’s five-year term.
Akhoon, who assumed office on October 18, 2023, completed his agreed tenure on April 18, 2026. However, he refused to step down, triggering a prolonged political confrontation with the Congress, which demanded that the post be handed over in line with the coalition pact.
Despite his expulsion from the National Conference, Akhoon has maintained that he will continue as Chief Executive Councillor, claiming he still enjoys the support of BJP councillors, some NC members, Congress councillors and Independents.
The latest development has intensified political uncertainty in LAHDC-Kargil, with questions now arising over the future of the council and the NC-Congress alliance in Ladakh.
