SHILLONG, MAR 24: Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar on Tuesday approved amended rules making Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates mandatory for candidates contesting Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
“Would like to thank the Hon’ble Governor for approving the amended rules making it mandatory for candidates to have ST certificate to contest in the GHADC elections,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma posted on X, confirming the decision.
This came a day after the National People’s Party (NPP)-led GHADC amended its rules to require every candidate to hold a Scheduled Tribe certificate, effectively restricting elections to tribal contestants for the first time since the council’s creation in 1952.
The decision also comes after the state government’s decision to extend the current tenure of the GHADC by six months following weeks of violent protests against non-tribal participation in the council elections, which was earlier scheduled to be held on April 10.
By Our Reporter
