NC expels Jaffar Akhoon from party

Srinagar, Jul 18: The ruling National Conference on Saturday expelled Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffar Akhoon, from the party for refusing to honour the pre-election commitment of transferring power to the Congress.
The National Conference General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar, ordered Akhoon’s removal from the party’s basic membership for six years, citing anti-party activities and indiscipline.
As per the five-year power-sharing pact between the NC and the Congress, the chair of the CEC was to rotate between the two allies, with the NC holding the position for the first two-and-a-half years, followed by the Congress for the remaining tenure.
However, CEC Akhoon refused to step down after completing his term, prompting 16 councillors to bring a no-confidence motion against him. The Ladakh administration remains indecisive over the motion.
On July 13, all NC councillors as well as BJP councillors passed the annual plan for 2026–27 during the general council meeting of the Council.
Later, Akhoon appointed two executive councillors-one from the National Conference and the other an independent-in place of two vacancies in the key decision-making body created by the resignation of Congress members after Akhoon refused to step down. (KNO)