Shillong : In a major development ahead of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, Meghalaya Governor C H Vijayashankar has approved the amended rules making it mandatory for candidates to possess a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate to contest the polls.
Confirming the development, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma expressed gratitude to the Governor for giving his nod to the amendment. He stated that the decision ensures that only eligible tribal candidates will be able to participate in the GHADC elections.
The approval comes a day after the National People’s Party (NPP)-led GHADC passed amendments to its rules, making ST certificates compulsory for all candidates. This marks a significant shift, as it effectively restricts participation in the council elections to tribal contestants for the first time since the council was established in 1952.
The development also follows the state government’s recent decision to extend the tenure of the GHADC by six months. The extension was announced after weeks of protests and unrest over the issue of non-tribal participation in the council elections, which were initially scheduled to be held on April 10.
The move is expected to have a major impact on the political landscape in the Garo Hills region, as it addresses long-standing demands from various groups seeking to safeguard tribal representation in the autonomous district council.