Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 15: Keenly contested election for prestigious post of Chairman/Chief Executive Council (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil will be held tomorrow morning with PDP-Congress backed by Independents supporting PDP leader Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan for the post of the chairman while National Conference, which is on the other side, would decide its nominee for the post either late tonight or tomorrow morning.
Nomination for the post of the Chairman/CEC, who has the rank of Cabinet Minister, can be given to Deputy Commissioner, Kargil Kacho Hassan Khan up to 11 am tomorrow, when he will conduct the election. The DC Kargil, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Council is the Election Authority, appointed by the State Government, for conducting fresh election of the Chairman/CEC.
The election was necessitated after National Conference backed Chairman/CEC Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan was defeated in floor test held on August 27, whose results were declared on September 2 by 14 votes to 15 with one vote held as invalid in the House of 30.
Deputy Commissioner, Kargil Kacho Hassan Khan told the Excelsior that the election for the post of the Chairman/CEC LAHDC, Kargil, has been scheduled for 11 am tomorrow at Baro Conference Hall. He said he has duly written to all 30 Councilors to attend the election. He has also invited nominations for the post of the Chairman/CEC.
Confirming receipt of one nomination for the post of Chairman from Congress and its supporters, the Deputy Commissioner, however, declined to disclose the name on the ground of maintaining its secrecy.
Reliable sources, however, said that the Congress and its supported Independent Councilors have nominated Yourbaltak Councilor Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan, an Independent but now a PDP leader, for the post of Chairman/CEC.
It was withdrawal of support to Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan headed and NC supported Council by Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan that had led to defeat of Jan during the floor test.
While Congress and its supported Independent Councilors were set to back Kacho for the post of Chairman/CEC, the National Conference and its supported Councilors were yet to take a decision. NC leaders said they were scheduled to meet over dinner at the residence of Kacho tonight and finalize name for the post of Chairman/CEC.
Boycott of election was one of the options being discussed by NC and its supporters on the ground that a case was still pending in the court.
Possibility of Hanifa Jan being repeated for the prestigious post is not ruled out but a final decision will be taken keeping in account winning prospectus of the candidate.
The DC Kargil said the candidates can submit their names for the post of the Chairman/CEC till 11 am tomorrow when the election will be held. Results will be declared in the afternoon.
This will be third election of the Chairman/CEC LAHDC, Kargil in as many years. The present LAHDC Kargil, still have two years term left. Congress leader Haji Asgar Ali Karbalaie was first Chairman/CEC of the present Council but after his election as Congress MLA from Kargil, NC Backed Haji Hanifa Mohammad Jan was elected to the post.
The no-confidence motion against Haji Hanifa Jan was passed with 15 Councilors voting for it and 14 opposing while one vote was declared as invalid on August 27 though its results were declared on September 2 in view of some legal hurdle.
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.
As the Deputy Commissioner had ordered fresh election of the chairman and freezed powers of the Chairman and his four Executive Councilors after withdrawal of support by Kacho, 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 result was later declared.
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