Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 27: Secret floor test was conducted for the post of Chairman, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil today at the Conference Hall in Kargil in which fate of National Conference backed incumbent Chairman Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan was sealed.
Result of the confidential floor test will be announced by the High Court only, which had ordered the floor test after Jan knocked doors of judiciary as powers of the Council were freezed by the Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, who serves as Chief Executive officer (CEO) to the Council, following withdrawal of support by Independent Councilor Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan.
Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Kacho Hassan Khan told the Excelsior on telephone that the confidential floor test was completely peaceful and there was no complaint by any member of the two sides whether ruling or opposition.
“All 30 Councilors of the LAHDC Kargil attended the floor test,’’ the Deputy Commissioner said, adding that the Councilors were given ballot papers and they used their right to vote secretly. After the voting was over, the ballot papers in sealed envelope were submitted to the Ladakh Affairs Department, which will further forward it to the State High Court.
The Court will declare results of the floor test, he said.
After the floor test, both the camps claimed victory.
While National Conference backed LAHDC Kargil chairman Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan and his four Executive Councilors said they were confident of winning the floor test, the rival camp headed by Independent Councilor Kacho Ahmad Khan (a PDP leader) backed by the Congress, also made the similar claim.
Four sitting Executive Councilors—Ghulam Rasool Naqvi, Syed Abbas Rizvi, Mohsin Ali and Tsering Angdus told reporters in Kargil that they have won the floor test and will stay in power on declaration of results by the High Court.
On the other, Kacho Ahmad Khan claimed victory saying Jan led Council has lost the floor test. He said once results are declared by the Court, they will stake claim to form new Council in Kargil.
Kacho said Jan had lost trust of the Councilors and should have resigned on his own earlier.
Jan had been heading the Council with the support of 16 Councilors in the House of 30. However, after Independent Councilor Kacho Ahmad Khan withdrew support to Jan, the latter’s strength was reduced to 15.
As Kacho had joined PDP, the Congress and Independent Councilors had decided to support Kacho in formation of new Council.
As the Deputy Commissioner had ordered fresh election of the chairman and freezed powers of the Chairman and his four Executive Councilors, the latter knocked the doors of the High Court.
The High Court had ordered conduct of secret floor test but restrained the Deputy Commissioner from declaring the results saying the ballot papers will be sent to it and it will examine them before announcing result of the floor test.
Congress leader Haji Asgar Ali Karbalai had been heading the Council before he was elected as MLA from Kargil on the Congress mandate in 2014. After his exit, Congress lost the majority and Jan, also an Independent, formed the Council with the support of National Conference.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel