Shillong, March 20 : Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of District Council Affairs (DCA), Prestone Tynsong, has strongly criticized the Congress for its proposal to partially proceed with the GHADC elections, stating that the party’s stance ignores the aspirations and sentiments of the people of Garo Hills.
Reacting to remarks made by Congress Working President Deborah Marak, Tynsong questioned whether the party truly understands public sentiment in the region. “Whether the Congress, especially in Garo Hills, does not see or realise the aspiration of the people — that is what I want to ask,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that the state government’s decision to defer the GHADC elections and extend the council’s tenure by six months was taken in view of the prevailing law-and-order situation following violent protests over the issue of non-tribal participation. He stated that the move was necessary to ensure stability and address the concerns of the people.
Deborah Marak had suggested that elections could still be conducted in 27 out of 29 constituencies, excluding only Shyamnagar and Balachanda, which are at the centre of the dispute.
However, Tynsong dismissed the proposal, questioning its practicality and intent. “If they say only two constituencies’ elections should be revoked, then I fail to understand in what way they mean… Such statements are so irresponsible,” he said. He further accused the Congress of merely criticizing government decisions instead of engaging with the ground realities.
Meanwhile, the Congress has demanded that elections be conducted in unaffected constituencies and has called for an all-party meeting to resolve the issue. Marak maintained that elections could have proceeded in most seats while leaving the disputed constituencies for later resolution by a new executive committee. “They could have suspended these two constituencies, allowed polls elsewhere, and let a new executive committee find a mechanism to solve the problem,” she said.
The GHADC elections, initially scheduled for April 10, were deferred by the state government, with the council’s term extended until October 18, 2026, citing security concerns and ongoing tensions in parts of Garo Hills.
