National Conference, which has emerged as the single largest party in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil elections by bagging 10 seats, is looking at two options to gain control of the powerful local body.
In the election, NC is followed by Congress with eight seats. While independents bagged five seats, PDP walked away with two seats and BJP managed to win one seat.
In the House of 26 elected councilors, a party needs support of 14 candidates to form the executive council. Four members are also nominated by government in the House.
The options being explored by NC’s leadership are either to form the executive council with support of independents or to enter into an alliance with Congress.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, NC district president Kargil, Haji Hanifa Jan said the party is working to form the executive council.
“Three independent candidates supported by us also won, so it takes our seat tally to 13. We just need one more seat to elect our chief executive councilor and executive councilors,” he said.
He said they are in touch with an independent candidate to reach the figure of 14.
“There is also thinking that we should offer Congress to join the executive council so that we are able to provide a stable local government to the people,” he said.
National Conference provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said the party high command has empowered the local leadership of Kargil to decide on the matter.
State Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the ball is in the court of NC. “We will not make any effort for forming the executive council. There is no question of Congress joining hands with PDP or BJP because they are extension of RSS,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah on Saturday thanked the people of Kargil for reposing faith in National Conference.
“I express gratitude to the people of Kargil for reposing faith in National Conference in spite of the challenges the party is facing. The win is a testimony to our commitment to ensuring a society where everyone is equal irrespective of caste, creed, region, religion or color,” Farooq said.
Omar in his congratulatory message expressed happiness over the performance of party candidates in LAHDC elections. “The electoral success in these elections for our party is very heartening and I thank people of Kargil with all my heart for their support and love. However the real work begins now with people expecting more from us,” he said.