SHILLONG, JAN 24: Although the Centre has approved the amendment of the Sixth Schedule, the state government has decided to go ahead with holding elections to the two autonomous district councils (ADCs) in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region on February 27.
“Elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council will be held as scheduled on February 27,” deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters on Thursday.
His statement came a day after the Union Cabinet approved the amendment to Article 280 and the Sixth Schedule to the Indian Constitution, which seeks to increase the powers of the ten ADCs in the North East region including Meghalaya.
Following this landmark decision of the Centre, there has been apprehension from different quarters that the state government may postponed the holding of elections to the two ADCs in the state.
The deputy chief minister however said the decision to go ahead with the elections was after seeking the opinion of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). “I had a detailed discussion with the joint secretary of the home ministry overphone on the matter,” he said.
Asked, Tynsong cited that now the next step is this Bill has to be introduced in the parliament and it has to be passed by both the houses (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) before sending it to the President for his assent and “that in itself takes longer time.”
According to him, there are also various items in the amendment which include introduction of anti-defection law, increasing the number of seats, constitution of the finance commission and others.
“Therefore, the process is still long,” he said while pointing out that there is also a proviso which says that the amendment once it becomes an Act, the implementation of the same can be done in the next House.
Whether the government will hold an all party meeting to discuss on the matter, the deputy chief minister however said that will not be necessary because the state Cabinet has already taken decision on the date and month for holding elections after consulting the concerned stakeholders.
“But except if there is any fresh instruction from the Government of India then it is necessary for us to again have a consultation with the stakeholders. But as of today nothing of that sort or any official communication has come to us from the Centre,” he added.
To another query, Tynsong said if the state government has to implement the new amended Act then the option is only to extend the existing Houses as there is a provision in the existing Sixth Schedule where government can extend the house upto one year.
“But till now we have not received any instruction or official communication from the Centre that we should extend the existing Houses,” he added.
By Our Reporter
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