By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Election to the four municipal boards of Garo Hills will be held on August 6 this year. The State Government took the decision on Monday following directives of the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court to hold the elections before September. The counting of votes will take place on August 9.
The State Cabinet last week gave its final nod to the elections which were called off last year due to large-scale protest and violence in the region.
The four municipal boards where the elections would be held are — Williamnagar and Resubelpara in East Garo Hills, Tura in West Garo Hills and Baghmara in South Garo Hills.
The court order to hold the elections before September was issued on May 30 on the basis of a petition filed by some candidates against the Government decision to call off the elections.
The filling of nominations would be open from July 15 and the last date is July 20. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held from July 21. The campaigning for the elections to all the four civic bodies will end on August 4 at 4 pm. Re-polling, if need, would be conducted on August 8, P Naik, Principal Secretary of the Urban Affairs Department said on Monday.
The electoral rolls would be published on July 15 while any claims and objections would be accepted till July 4. The last date for disposal of claims and objections is July 11.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 27 and allotment of symbols to candidates will take place on the same day after 3 pm.
The State Government last year had to call off the civic elections at the eleventh hour after NGOs and traditional chiefs in Garo Hills resorted to agitations which ultimately led to law and order problem in the area.
They opposed the elections fearing that elected municipal bodies would infringe into the power and functions of the traditional institutions.