SHILLONG : Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home and District Council Affairs, Prestone Tynsong, on Wednesday announced that the general elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) scheduled for April 10 will be deferred due to the prevailing law-and-order situation in Garo Hills.
Speaking to reporters after a video conference with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Tynsong said the situation in parts of Garo Hills has become serious following recent clashes in the plain belt areas.
“The condition and situation that we have in Garo Hills is very grim,” Tynsong said while explaining the government’s decision to postpone the elections.
He said the state government will hold a cabinet meeting on Thursday evening at 5 PM to further deliberate on the future course of action regarding the council elections.
Tynsong appealed to residents of Garo Hills—both tribal and non-tribal—to maintain peace and allow the government to restore normalcy. He also invited all stakeholders, including NGOs and community leaders, to come forward and share their concerns and suggestions during the period of postponement.
“I would request all of them to be cool and calm since the government has taken the decision to postpone the elections,” he said, assuring that the government remains open to discussions and deliberations with all concerned groups.
The deputy chief minister also expressed concern over recent incidents of violence, including the attack on an office of the National People’s Party (NPP) in Tura, and urged civil society organisations to help restore peace in the region.
Meanwhile, Tynsong acknowledged the recent order of the Meghalaya High Court which nullified a notification issued by the executive committee of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council related to Scheduled Tribe certificates.
He admitted that the council’s executive committee did not follow proper legislative procedures while issuing the notification.
According to Tynsong, any amendment to the council’s rules must first be approved by the executive committee, then passed by the full council House, and finally sent to the Governor for assent.
He stressed that autonomous district councils function with legislative, judicial and executive powers under the Sixth Schedule and therefore have the authority to amend their own rules without direction from the state government.
“You can’t blame the government because this is fully the authority of the ADCs,” Tynsong said, adding that council leaders should have convened a special session earlier to discuss the issue.
The deputy chief minister also declined to speculate on the recent shooting incident in which a protester was killed, saying an official inquiry would determine the exact circumstances.
He assured that district authorities have been instructed to provide full medical treatment to those injured during the unrest.
Tynsong said the government’s immediate priority is to ensure that the situation in Garo Hills returns to normal and that peace is restored.