The elections of the 29-seat Khasi Hills District Council is likely to be held on February 28.
Sources said that the cabinet which met on Jan 11 finalised the date. A formal notification announcing the poll schedule is expected to be issued on Jan 28.
Sources said that the Govt has decided to maintain status quo with regard to the delimitation of constituencies. It is recalled that the Executive Committee of the District Council had earlier recommended to the State Govt. for notifying fresh delimitations on lines indicated by it.
Observers say that the proposals for redefining of the Constituencies were patently designed to suit the interest of the State based parties which are saddled in power in the District Council. Obviously, it did not suit the Congress(I) led MDF Govt to comply with the Executive Committee’s recommendations.
Meanwhile, the Congress (I) has maintained its efforts to its fold. Notable catches of the recent weeks have been Mr Dlosing Lyngdoh, Chairman Khasi Hills District Council and Mr Wilford Lyngdoh, former General Secretary of the HSPDP.
There are strong rumours that some front-ranking APHLC leaders, including a couple of MLAs, are soon going to join the Congress (I). A former Minister is said to be tipped for the Chairmanship of the State Planning Board.
New Party: The proposed new regional party – a combination fo the APHLC and the HSPDP – is yet to see the light of the day. The two parties were to complete all constitutional formalities before the eventual amalgamation. But it has already fallen much behind schedule raising doubt whether it can finalise everything before the impending elections.
According to informed sources, the two parties are thinking in terms of having electoral adjustments in case the new party cannot be floated.
The Congress (I), which has its tail up, is aiming at wrestling power from the regional parties. The party sources said that it would set up candidates in all 29 constituencies.
Why this delay: Mr B B Lyngdoh, in a press statement, has clarified that there was some delay in floating the new party since “the leaders alone cannot dissolve the parties”. As per Supreme Court verdict on the “merger” of APHLC with Congress in 1977, no party can be dissolved “without the consent of the general membership.”
The Statement said that a joint Steering Committee of 20 members, ten from each party, was appointed to consult the members all over the State. The work was completed within three months. On July 20 the Steering Committee convened a general meeting of the leaders which ratified the report of the Committee recommending unit of the two parties. Subsequently, the HSPDP General Council on August 5 and the APHLC conference held a day later endorsed the decision and appointed two committees representing the two parties “to work out the modalities.”