Srinagar, May 6/ VOL News Desk/ Farooq Abdullah, President of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, has announced that his party will hand over the chairmanship of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil to the Indian National Congress in accordance with the agreement reached in 2023. The move is being seen as a significant step towards reducing ongoing political tensions in the region.

Speaking to the media, Farooq Abdullah clarified that the leadership of the Council will now be transferred to Congress in line with the alliance agreement. He stated that the transition of power will be carried out as per the agreed formula between the two parties to maintain the alliance and ensure continuity in governance.

It is noteworthy that in the October 2023 elections, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference emerged as the single largest party with 12 seats in the 30-member Council, while the Indian National Congress secured 10 seats. Together, the alliance commanded a clear majority of 22 seats—six more than the simple majority mark—whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party managed to win only two seats.

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According to sources, the transfer of power was initially scheduled for April 18, but the process was delayed as the current Chief Executive Councillor, Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, did not relinquish the post. It is reported that several district-level meetings of the National Conference were held to address the issue; however, no final outcome has been reached so far.

Meanwhile, no official statement has yet been issued by the Indian National Congress on the matter, leading to further speculation in political circles. Observers believe that if the transition is completed as per the agreement, it will not only restore trust between the alliance partners but also bring stability to the political landscape of Kargil.