SHILLONG, SEPT 1: Meghalaya cabinet on Thursday decided to announce the date for holding the bye-elections to the seven vacant seats to the two autonomous district councils (ADCs) – KHADC and JHADC soon.
Addressing newsmen after the cabinet meeting, chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “The proposal for the possible calendar for holding of elections to the various vacancies will be forwarded to the Governor.”
In addition, the District Council Affairs (DCA) minister Prestone Tynsong said once the Governor approves the proposal, the calendar will accordingly be approved and announced.
Earlier, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) in its letter to the DCA department had expressed its inability to bear the expenditure for holding the bye-elections due to financial constrain.
However informing on the new development regarding to this issue, Tynsong said that the KHADC in its letter to the department today decided to withdraw its earlier letter.
“They (KHADC) have indicated their willingness to hold the bye-elections and accordingly bear the expenses to be incurred,” Tynsong said.
A PIL had been filed before the Meghalaya High Court against the state government for delaying to conduct the bye-elections for the past 10 months.
When asked on the reasons for the delay, Tynsong said though the vacant seats were required to be filled, but there are no specific timeframe for holding the bye-elections to the ADCs .
“There are no reasons for the delay but in course of starting the election process, a letter from the KHADC saying there is no funds and that the state government cannot deduct from its shares to hold the share delayed the process ,” he said
Eight MLAs had resigned from the post of MDCs of the KHADC and one of them from JHADC following passing of the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015, which sought to end holding of dual posts by the MLAs, last year.-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours