By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government on Saturday decided to hold the elections to four municipal boards in Garo Hills braving the strong possibility of recurrence of strong protests from NGOs and traditional bodies which had prompted the Government to call off the elections last time.
The Government decision came after the Shillong Bench of Gauhati High Court ordered the State Government to hold civic elections in the Garo hills within September this year.
“The Government will take everything into account to ensure that the civic elections are free, fair and peaceful,” Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The Government last year had to call off the civic elections at the eleventh hour after the NGOs in Garo Hills resorted to agitations which ultimately led to law and order problem in the region.
The Government then decided to nominate ward commissioners to the municipal boards in Garo Hills after its failed attempt to hold the elections citing law and order problems.
According to Lyngdoh, the election notification would soon be issued while the draft electoral role for Baghmara will be published on June 27.
When asked if law and order problem would arise again following the decision to hold the civic polls, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said all the aspects including security have been taken into consideration before taking the crucial decision.
NGOs had opposed the civic polls in Williamnagar and Resubelpara in East Garo Hills, Tura in West Garo Hills and Baghmara in South Garo Hills fearing that the elections would infringe into the power and functions of the traditional institutions.
The matter was dragged to the court by the civic poll candidates, who felt embarrassed after the Government decision to call off the elections.
The petitioners said elections to the municipal boards in Garo Hills have not been held for a long time and thereby the rights of the inhabitants of the municipal board areas to get their elected representatives has been infringed upon.