Kargil, Oct 17: The newly-elected Councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, were officially sworn into office on Tuesday in a grand ceremony held at the Syed Mehdi Auditorium Hall here. The Principal District and Session Judge Kargil, Iqbal Ahmed Masoodi, administered the oath to the 26 elected Councillors from their respective constituencies.
The gathering included prominent figures such as Abdul Samadh, Abdul Wahid, Mohd Jawad, Kacho Mohammad Feroz, Abdul Hadi, Aga Ai-nul-huda, Stanzin Gigmet, Punchock Tashi, Stanzin Lakpa, Altaf Hussain, Haji Mohammad Abass, Khadim Hussain, Mohd Amin, Manzoor Hussain, Feroz Ahmed Khan, Nasir Hussain Munshi, Syed Mujataba Mossavi, Syed Ali, Mohammad Sajjad Khan, Ghulam Haider, Ashiq Ali, Dr Mohammad Jaffar Akhone, Zakir Hussain, Liyaqat Ali Khan, and Padma Dorje.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including Deputy Commissioner/CEO of LAHDC and Election Authority Kargil, Shrikant Suse, Special Judicial Mobile Magistrate Kargil, Shafiq Mushtaq Lone, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Wani, and SSP Kargil Stanzin Noorbu. Former Cabinet Ministers, Former Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), representatives of various religious organizations, members of various political parties, and district officers were also present, underscoring the significance of local governance in the Ladakh region.
The National Conference (NC) officially nominated Dr Jaffar Akhoon as its candidate for the post of Chief Executive Councillor-cum-Chairman of the 5th Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil. This decision followed a meeting held immediately after the swearing-in of the 26 elected councillors.
The nomination of Dr Akhoon was proposed by outgoing Councillor Feroz Ahmad Khan, a proposal met with unanimous agreement by the attending councillors. Dr Akhoon, the winner of the recent election from the Thasgam Thuina constituency, now bears the party’s nomination for this pivotal role.
A strategic alliance between the National Conference and Congress, securing 22 out of the 26 seats in the council, will determine the final candidate for Chief Executive Councillor during a scheduled meeting later tonight. This decision will precede the official election, set to take place on Wednesday.
The NC and Congress have agreed to share the position of Chief Executive Councillor equally for two and a half years each. This collaborative effort aims to ensure effective governance in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil, fostering development and progress for the region.
Earlier in the day, all 26 elected councillors, including two from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two independent candidates, were administered the oath of office, marking the commencement of their roles in the council. As the new council takes charge, Ladakh’s political landscape promises to witness a dynamic and transformative era.
