SHILLONG, March 13: The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Governor of Meghalaya, CH Vijayashankar, to amend the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951, so that only indigenous Scheduled Tribe members can contest or vote in the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
The BJP delegation, led by state president Rikman G. Momin and Pynthorumkhrah MLA AL Hek, submitted a memorandum requesting an urgent GHADC session and legal amendments restricting both franchise and candidature exclusively to Meghalaya’s indigenous tribes.
In a statement, BJP chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang emphasized, “The rules must be crystal clear and devoid of any anomaly, ensuring that only Meghalaya’s indigenous tribes can contest or vote in GHADC elections.”
According to Kharkrang, one of the proposed amendments mandates that candidates and voters must possess a Scheduled Tribe certificate and belong to one of Meghalaya’s recognized indigenous tribes.
The delegation said the Governor assured them that the suggestions would be reviewed immediately by a panel of experts to ensure legal compliance. Once approved, the Governor will initiate the necessary actions as per the provisions of the Indian Constitution.
This move by the BJP comes amid growing discussions over the representation and rights of indigenous communities in Meghalaya’s autonomous councils, especially in Garo Hills.