Shillong :The Government of Meghalaya has decided to extend the tenure of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months following unrest in Garo Hills over the issue of non-tribal participation in the council elections.
The decision was approved during a cabinet meeting virtually chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home and District Council Affairs Prestone Tynsong said the cabinet discussed a single agenda related to the extension of the current GHADC House.
After detailed deliberations, the cabinet decided to extend the tenure of the council for a period of six months from April 18 to October 18, 2026, he said.
The development came just hours after Albinush R. Marak resigned from the post of Chief Executive Member (CEM) following a no-confidence move supported by 21 members of the council.
Later in the afternoon, the council House elected D Ch Sangma as the new Chief Executive Member and constituted a new Executive Committee.
Tynsong informed that the government will now allow the newly formed executive committee to decide on issues related to candidate eligibility, including the requirement of Scheduled Tribe certificates for contesting the council elections.
The decision to extend the council’s term also follows the recent postponement of the GHADC elections, which were earlier scheduled for April 10 with vote counting on April 14. The polls were deferred due to law-and-order concerns arising from protests in Garo Hills against the participation of non-tribal candidates in the election process.
According to Tynsong, the six-month extension will provide sufficient time for dialogue and consultations among stakeholders to address concerns related to the election rules and eligibility criteria.
He said the government, along with the new executive committee of the council, will hold discussions with different stakeholders under the leadership of the chief minister to find a solution acceptable to all sections of the people.
Tynsong described the cabinet’s move as a significant decision aimed at maintaining peace and ensuring that the aspirations of the people of Garo Hills are respected.
He also rejected claims from the opposition that the extension was politically motivated to benefit the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), stating that the government’s primary concern is to address public sentiment and maintain law and order in the region.
During the next six months, the government and the new GHADC executive committee are expected to hold consultations with stakeholders to examine possible amendments or policy decisions regarding candidate eligibility and election participation.