Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 20: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil today once again plunged into crisis after Independent Councilor from Yourbaltak constituency, Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan, who happened to be former Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), withdraws support from National Conference Council in Kargil.
Kacho submitted his letter withdrawing support from present dispensation/ local Government (LAHDC Kargil) to Deputy Commissioner, Kargil Hassan Khan, who serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Council and called upon him to take necessary action.
However, Haji Mohammad Haneefa Jan, incumbent CEC, LAHDC Kargil, while confirming withdrawal of support by Kacho, maintained that his Council was ready to prove majority and there was no threat to him.
Speaking to the Excelsior from Kargil, Jan said he didn’t face any threat after withdrawal of support by one of the Independent Councilor (Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan).
“Some other Independent Councilors are ready to support us. We would prove majority when asked for by the CEO,’’ he said.
He added that the Deputy Commissioner, Kargil had to write to Ladakh Affairs Department, which then takes decision on proving majority in the Council.
In 30-member Council, CEC Haneefa Jan has support of 8 National Conference Councilors, four Independents and four Nominated Councilors. All four Nominated Councilors have the voting right in the Council.
Opposition Congress has support of 14 Councilors including 11 members elected on party’s mandate and three Independent Councilors.
With Kacho withdrawing support, the strength of Haneefa Jan led Councilors has been reduced to 15 in the House of 30. If Kacho supports Congress, both NC and Congress would be tied at 15 each, sources said, adding that Kacho’s support has become very crucial in the Council.
Senior Congress leader and district president Ghulam Raza has called strategy meeting of the Councilors following withdrawal of support by Kacho.
“We are going to review our strategy very soon,’’ he said.
Majority of Congress Councilors and those supporting the Opposition party were likely to chalk out their strategy in the next couple of days. Kacho was not available for comments on telephone. He hasn’t revealed his strategy except for writing a letter to the Deputy Commissioner withdrawing support to Haneefa Jan led LAHDC Kargil.
Sources said it was not clear immediately as to whether Kacho was going to support Congress backed Council or stay neutral. He was expected to open his cards in the next few days.
The sudden withdrawal of support by Kacho to Haneefa Jan led Council has once again plunged the LAHDC Kargil into crisis, which had been mired into controversies right from the day it was elected in September 2013.
Despite National Conference enjoying majority in the Council, the NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah had allowed Congress to form the Council to keep NC-Congress alliance intact, as both parties were then ruling the State in coalition. However, after the exit of NC-Congress coalition and election of then CEC Kargil Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie as MLA Kargil on Congress mandate, the Congress was reduced to minority and NC backed Jan was elected as the new CEC.
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