Alliance of 16 Councillors presses for floor test, LG assures action

Deadlock over power-sharing in LAHDC Kargil

LEH: The month-long political deadlock in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, may be nearing a resolution, with leaders of the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance on Thursday claiming that Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh had assured them that a decision on the long-pending floor test would be taken within the next few days.

Addressing a press conference after meeting the Lieutenant Governor, leaders of the alliance said they had received a positive response from the administration and expressed confidence that the constitutional process required to determine the council’s majority would soon be set in motion.

“The response from the Lieutenant Governor was very positive. He assured us that a solution would be found soon and that a date for the floor test would be announced in the coming days,” alliance leaders told reporters.

The political uncertainty in LAHDC Kargil has persisted for more than a month following differences over the implementation of a power-sharing arrangement between the National Conference and the Congress. Under the coalition agreement reached after the Hill Council elections, the five-year tenure of the council was to be divided equally between the two parties, with the National Conference leading the administration for the first two-and-a-half years and the Congress assuming leadership for the remaining term.

According to alliance representatives, the agreed transfer of leadership did not take place after completion of the stipulated period, prompting 16 councillors—well above the majority mark in the 30-member council—to submit a no-confidence motion against the incumbent Chief Executive Councillor (CEC).

The councillors said the requisition seeking a floor test was submitted more than a month ago, but no date has yet been notified. They added that the matter had earlier been taken up with the Chief Secretary of Ladakh, who assured them that it would be placed before the Lieutenant Governor upon his return to the Union Territory.

The delegation, comprising elected councillors and senior functionaries of both coalition partners, informed the Lieutenant Governor that the continuing uncertainty was adversely affecting governance and delaying developmental activities across Kargil district.

Alliance leaders argued that the absence of a General Council meeting has prevented approval of the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) budget, resulting in delays in the release of funds for various development projects. They claimed that several ongoing works have slowed down or halted due to the absence of financial clearances and administrative approvals.

“With Ladakh’s working season being limited, every day of delay has consequences for development projects, particularly in remote and high-altitude areas such as Zanskar,” the leaders said.

Seeking to project unity within the coalition, the alliance leaders maintained that the dispute was not between the National Conference and Congress as political parties, but concerned the implementation of the agreed leadership transition.

“The National Conference and Congress remain committed to the coalition agreement signed after the elections. The alliance remains intact and the issue will be resolved through democratic means,” they said.

The leaders reiterated that the floor test would provide a definitive answer on which side enjoys majority support in the council and insisted that elected representatives were merely seeking adherence to democratic and constitutional procedures.

While expressing faith in the administration’s intervention, they cautioned that prolonged delays could intensify public dissatisfaction. According to the delegation, patience among both councillors and the public was gradually wearing thin, though they remained committed to pursuing a peaceful and democratic resolution.

To reinforce their claim of majority support, the alliance leaders said all 16 councillors backing the no-confidence motion were presented before the Lieutenant Governor during the meeting.

During the interaction, Member of Parliament from Ladakh also welcomed the recent creation of new districts in the Union Territory but reiterated the demand for an additional district in Kargil. He argued that a large and densely populated area remains outside the ambit of the latest administrative reorganisation and merits separate district status.

The leaders claimed that both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Territory Administration had acknowledged the rationale behind the demand and expressed hope that the matter would receive favourable consideration in the future.

Concluding the press conference, the alliance leaders said they were optimistic that the administration would soon notify the floor test and allow the democratic process to determine the future leadership of LAHDC Kargil.

The developments are being closely watched across Kargil district, where the outcome of the proposed floor test is expected to shape not only the future composition of the Hill Council administration but also the trajectory of governance and development works in the region.