Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 2: The National Conference today suffered major setback when its backed Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil lost the no-confidence motion moved against it by the Congress backed Opposition.
The no-confidence motion was passed with 15 Councilors voting for it and 14 opposing while one vote was declared as invalid.
The results were declared today by Deputy Commissioner, Kargil Kacho Hassan Khan, who happens to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the LAHDC Kargil.
Kacho told the Excelsior on telephone from Kargil that out of all 30 votes polled in secret ballot held for no-confidence motion on August 27, 15 voted for the motion, 14 voted against the motion and one vote was declared invalid.
“Hence the no confidence motion against the chairman LAHDC Kargil (Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan) was passed by the majority votes. However, it will be subject to outcome of writ petition and appeal pending disposal before the High Court,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner said the report of the election results has been submitted to Ladakh Affairs Department of the State Government.
“As per the Constitution of the LAHDC Kargil, election for new chairman has to be held within 10 days of the passing of no-confidence motion against the incumbent chairman,” the DC said, adding he has to call the members to file nominations for the post of the Chairman and fix date for the election after getting go ahead from the Government and the Court.
Haji Hanifa Jan is an Independent Councilor and had been elected chairman of the LAHDC Kargil with the backing of National Conference. However, the Congress and Independent Councilors had moved no-confidence motion against him after withdrawal of support by Independent Councilor Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan.
Jan had been heading the Council with the support of 16 Councilors in the House of 30. However, after 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 been supporting Kacho in formation of new Council and had moved no-confidence motion against Haji Hanifa Jan, which has been passed, leading to his ouster along with four Executive Councilors pending clearance from the High Court.
As the Deputy Commissioner had ordered fresh election of the chairman and freezed powers of the chairman and his four Executive Councilors, Jan had 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. The secret floor test was conducted on August 27.
Congress leader Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie 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.
Sources said going by the results of no-confidence motion, Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan, an Independent Councilor having backing of ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), could form the new Council in Kargil with the support of Congress and some Independents, who have voted against Jan.
If the legal clearance is received by the State Government, election for new chairman of the LAHDC Kargil has to be held within next 10 days, sources said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel