KL Report
SRINAGAR
Raising doubts over the coalition Government’s future stability in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh’s Member of Parliament and National Conference leader, Haji Hassan Khan has resigned to involve himself in regional politics aimed at weakening Congress.
Khan successfully contested Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council polls held recently and was elected as councilor. But political maneuvering by the Congress forced his party National Conference (NC) to give up claim for forming the Hill Council, an autonomous district level administration that has State-Government like powers in administrative matters.
Khan was eyeing the Chief Executive Councilor’s (CEC) position, which has the Cabinet Minister’s protocol.
Political observers believe that Khan’s resignation would not bear any impact at the State level as the next Parliament elections are due in April next year and the by-elections will not be held for the lone Ladakh seat.
However, his resignation indicates that the Congress-NC coalition is on a sticky wicket.
If things would gone NC way, Khan would have become the CEC as the NC had requisite numbers to stake claim in the 26-member LAHDC but the Congress pressurized the party High Command in Srinagar forcing CM Omar to buckle under pressure. This eventually helped Congress leader Asgar Ali Karbalae to take over as the CEC.
