NC expels Ladakh leader Akhoon as he refuses to resign as CEC of Kargil Hill Council

The National Conference (NC) on Saturday (July 18, 2026) dismissed the party’s Ladakh leader Dr. Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon, days after he refused to step down from the top post of the Chief Executive Council (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Range Development Council, Kargil (LAHDC-K) as part of a deal with the ally Congress.

An NC spokesman said party general secretary Haji Ali Mohammad Sagar had removed Mr Akhoon from the party’s basic membership for a period of six years. “The action was taken in view of his anti-party activities and for causing disorder within the party,” the spokesman said.

The NC and the Congress contested the Upper House elections as a coalition in 2023. While the NC won 12 seats, the Congress managed to win 10 of the 26 seats. Two seats were won by the BJP and two by independent candidates. In addition to these 26 seats, four seats are nominated in the 30-member Supreme Council.

As part of the pre-poll deal, the NC and Congress were to fill the post of CEC with a five-year tenure on a rotating basis for two-and-a-half years. However, Mr Akhoon has refused to step down despite offers from the Congress to move a no-confidence motion against him. Ladakh MP Hanifa Jan met Lt. Governor VK Saxena “to ensure a floor test as per the rules”.

Published – 19 Jul 2026 0:17 IST