SHILLONG, OCT 7: The Meghalaya cabinet on Wednesday approved a six-month extension of the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to complete delimitation and SIR exercise before polls.
After a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, cabinet minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla said there was only one formal agenda.
“There was just one formal agenda and that was the extension of the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council for six months for conducting election,” Shylla said.
He said elections could not be held earlier due to the situation in Garo Hills.
“As you all know, last time because of that unfortunate incident and the issue which happened in Garo Hills, we could not hold the election and after that we extended it for six months,” Shylla said.
He said the extension became necessary as delimitation and SIR processes are still underway.
“Because we have to do the delimitation and we have to do the SIR, the process is still on and the last time we extended for six months, so that six months will end on October 17,” he said.
“Before that, as you know, there is provision that we can extend the election in totality for one year, that is six plus six months,” Shylla added.
He said the cabinet decided to use the full provision under law to ensure the exercise is completed.
“Keeping in mind that the process for delimitation is still on and will complete soon, that is why today the cabinet called this meeting and we have approved the extension for another six months and we hope that within six months we can complete the election for GHADC,” Shylla said.
By Our Reporter
