Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 31: Ending weeks of speculation, former Chairman-cum-Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, and expelled National Conference (NC) leader Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the crucial Urban Local Bodies and Panchayat elections in Ladakh.
Akhoon’s induction into the BJP is being viewed as a significant political boost for the saffron party in Ladakh, particularly in the Kargil region, where the National Conference and Congress have traditionally maintained a strong political presence.
As reported earlier, Akhoon had announced his decision to step down from the CEC’s post on October 17. While expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and other senior leaders, he had openly praised the BJP leadership, fuelling speculation about his likely political move.
His decision to join the BJP has now put an end to the speculation surrounding his political future.
The National Conference had expelled Akhoon from its primary membership for six years on July 18, accusing him of indulging in anti-party activities and violating party discipline.
The action followed his survival of a Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion, which he defeated with the support of two BJP councillors and four BJP-backed nominated councillors. The expulsion was announced through the party’s official X handle, which stated that NC General Secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar had ordered the action over alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline.
Sources said the NC leadership was particularly unhappy with Akhoon’s decision to seek the support of BJP councillors and BJP-backed nominated members to get the council’s budget passed, bypassing its coalition partner, the Congress.
At the budget meeting chaired by Akhoon, all 12 NC councillors, six BJP-backed members, including the nominated councillors, one Congress councillor and one Independent participated and passed the budget. The support of 20 members in the 30-member House gave Akhoon a comfortable majority and thwarted the Congress’s attempt to remove him through a no-confidence motion. |
