Shillong, March 25: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said that the decision on holding the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections will be taken only after consultations with council leaders. The elections were earlier postponed following violent protests opposing the participation of non-tribal candidates.
The Chief Minister’s statement comes a day after Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar approved amendments to the GHADC’s Administrative (AD) Rules. The amendment makes it mandatory for all candidates to possess a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma clarified that the state government will not directly decide the election schedule. “It is not the state government. As Chief Minister, we can guide and share our views, but ultimately the district council has to take a call,” he said. He reiterated that the GHADC is an autonomous body and decisions regarding elections rest with the council itself.
Sangma further informed that the government is in close contact with the council leadership, including the newly appointed Chief Executive Member (CEM) and Executive Committee (EC). “We are in touch with the leaders of the district council, and based on discussions, we will decide how to move forward,” he added.
The amendment to the AD Rules follows the state government’s decision to extend the tenure of the GHADC by six months. The move came after weeks of unrest over the inclusion of non-tribal candidates in the elections, which were initially scheduled for April 10.
The final decision on the election timeline is now expected after detailed consultations with council authorities.
