NC, BJP Back Kargil Council Budget, Signalling Shift In Political Equations

LEH, July 15: In a significant political development in Ladakh’s Kargil district, the National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came together to ensure the passage of the Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) budget for 2026-27, while the Congress stayed away from the proceedings, indicating a possible end to the over two-and-a-half-year-old NC-Congress alliance in the Council. The annual budget, amounting to Rs 255 crore, was approved after 20 of the 30 Council members voted in its favour. The supporting members included all 12 NC councillors, six BJP councillors, one Congress councillor, and one Independent. Meanwhile, nine Congress councillors and one Independent boycotted the session. The budget had remained pending following a no-confidence motion moved in May against Chairman-cum-Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Dr Mohammad Jaffar Akhoon, who had refused to step down after completing his two-and-a-half-year tenure under a power-sharing agreement with the Congress. The delay had affected development works across Kargil. Speaking after the meeting, Dr Akhoon said the approval of the budget demonstrated that he continued to enjoy majority support in the Council. “Those who claimed support of 16 councillors while moving the no-confidence motion could not prove it in the House. Twenty councillors supported the budget, making the no-confidence motion irrelevant,” he said. Dr Akhoon also announced that two vacant Executive Councillor posts, left vacant after Congress members resigned, would soon be filled. Political observers believe the latest development has significantly weakened the Congress’ claim to lead the Council under the pre-poll power-sharing arrangement with the NC. Under the agreement reached before the 2023 LAHDC Kargil elections, the NC was to hold the CEC’s post for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by the Congress for the remaining term. Dr Akhoon completed his tenure in April 2026 but declined to resign, citing the recent creation of two new districts carved out of Kargil and the need for continuity. The political crisis intensified on May 14, when 16 councillors—including nine from Congress, five from NC and two Independents—submitted a no-confidence motion against Dr Akhoon. However, the latest House proceedings suggest the NC has consolidated support with the BJP, leaving the Congress isolated. The Council currently comprises 12 NC members, 10 Congress members, six BJP members (including four nominated councillors) and two Independents. The development comes a day after the Ladakh administration announced that all seven districts of the Union Territory would eventually have Autonomous Hill Development Councils, following the operationalisation of five newly created districts earlier this year.