Crisis has hit the ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (lAHDC) in Kargil after the resignation of Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) Asgar Karbalae, who took oath as Congress legislator in the State Assembly. Karbalae’s resignation as councilor tilted balance in the lAHDC, an autonomous body that governs the mountainous district, an arrangement introduced in only twin districts of leh and Kargil of ladakh region.
Karbalae was in two minds on whether to continue as CEC or join the State Assembly after his victory in the last year’s election. He had plunged in the fray with a hope that Congress would be part of dispensation in the State. However, though Congress bagged three of the four seats in ladakh region, its State-level performance was dismal. Karbalae was enjoying the status of a Cabinet Minister as the head of lAHDC.
However, on March 14, Karbalae resigned and rushed to Jammu to take oath as legislator. Some councilors were of the opinion that Karbalae must continue as CEC and relinquish his Assembly seat but he prevailed upon a group of religious leaders in Imam Khumeini Memorial Trust (IKMT), who allowed him to join the State Assembly. The IKMT is a powerful Shia religious group that backs Congress in the district.
Following the CEC’s resignation, the lAHDC has been rendered defunct and a new crisis emerged on its stability. The Congress reduced to minority with 14 councilors while the National Conference (NC) became the largest party with 15 councilors including 4 nominated members. The Deputy Commissioner P Ramaswamy, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hill Council, said that new CEC would be elected according to rules.
The crisis in Kargil would bring Congress and NC again on loggerheads. The Karbalae-led Council took over on September 15, 2013 when 5 independent councilors supported 10 councilors of the Congress. The NC had bagged 8 seats and got support of 3 councilors belonging to Islamia School, another religious grouping of the district. Initially, the NC staked claim for the Hill Council formation after nominating four councilors but later the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah succumbed to pressure from the coalition partner and his party issued a whip for its councilors to abstain voting. This helped Karbalae to cruise through and head the Hill Council.
Even as NC is attempting to regain the Hill Council, the newly emerged political equations in the State would hamper their chances. Observers say that both PDP and BJP, the coalition partners in J&K are trying to strengthen their base in ladakh region. The PDP nominated Haji Inayat Ali to the legislative Council who was defeated by Karbale in the Assembly elections.