Kargil War: NC Relents To Allow Congress to Form Local Government =>The ruling National Conference (NC) has finally conceded defeat in Kargil district of Kashmir to pave way for the Congress to lead the autonomous hill development council for five years. The elections for the hill council were held last month, which threw a hung verdict leading to manoeuvring and political bickering. Both NC and Congress, which fought the elections separately despite a coalition in the State, had staked claims for forming the hill council administration, a district-level autonomous body with decentralized powers. The 26-member Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil (LAHDC-K), results were announced on August 28 with a fractured mandate with Congress bagging 10 while NC and independents bagging eight seats each. The Congress alter managed the support of five independents while NC, secured support of three independents. The situation took an interesting turn when the government ordered nomination of four independent members for the council with political allegiance to the NC. The NC staked claim on the basis that 16 members were supporting it including the nominated members. However, the Congress objected to the “arbitrary” nomination and questioned their right to vote for electing a leader to lead the Council. On Thursday, the issue was discussed in Coordination Committee of the coalition partners, which was presided over by JKPCC chief Saifuddin Soz. Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, ladakh Affairs Minister Abdur Rahim Rather and senior cabinet ministers Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, Ali Mohammad Sagar and Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan attended the meeting. The NC relented to the Congress pressure and withdrew its claim to form the hill council administration. The Congress had threatened to withdraw support to the coalition government in J&K, if the ruling party insisted on its claim. Sources said that senior Congress leader Asghar Karbalae, who is backed by pro-Iran Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT), an influential Shia organisation in Kargil, would be elected as leader of the hill council in next two days. Karbalae was the first Chief Executive Councillor of the LAHDC-K in 2003 but was voted out of power in 2008 elections. Even as the Coordination Committee agreed to the nomination of four persons on behalf of the NC to the LAHDC, it barred their right to vote in the council. The NC has sought legal position in respect of voting rights for the nominated members. Interestingly, Ladakh’s sitting Parliament Member Hassan Khan had successfully contested for the council election with an eye on the CEC’s post. But, NC’s decision to withdraw claim for the formation of hill council administration, has humiliated the party rank and file in the district. This turn of events would boost the Congress party in Ladakh region where the Congress has upper hand in Leh region. “The Congress’ inroads in Kargil will spell doom for the NC in upcoming assembly and parliament elections”, a senior Ladakh expert told The Pioneer.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 05:53:35 +0000