Conduct of DC polls as per newly delimited constituencies
SHILLONG: Despite the passing of the Delimitation Bill by the KHADC on Saturday last, it is still unclear whether the upcoming elections to the three Autonomous District Councils in the State will be conducted as per the newly delimited constituencies.
Informing this here on Monday, official sources said various exercises have to be carried out after Governor Dr KK Paul approves the delimitation of constituencies of the three ADCs and hence the picture is still hazy as far as conducting the election as per the new developments is concerned.
It may be mentioned that despite stiff opposition from several members, the KHADC had, during a special session on Saturday last, passed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Constitution of District Councils) (Amendment) Rules, 2013 seeking delimitation of constituencies for the 2014 District Council polls.
Official sources added that the major bottleneck to conducting the elections as per the newly delimited constituencies is the preparation of fresh electoral rolls by the respective Deputy Commissioners.
“This is a tough challenge since there are less than two months left for the elections,” official sources said.
On the status of the delimitation of the constituencies, sources said that so far only the JHADC and KHADC have officially intimated the Government of having completed the delimitation exercise as per the recommendations of the Governor to constitute the Delimitation Committee.
“The GHADC is yet to inform the government,” official sources said.
The fact that the Delimitation Bills passed by the three ADCs would have to be routed through the District Council Affairs Minister HDR Lyngdoh and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma before submitting it to the Governor for his final approval is yet another reason why the upcoming elections might not be conducted as per the newly delimited constituencies as the entire process would take some time, sources said.
Sources also informed that the date of the District Council election is likely to be decided in the next Cabinet meeting. The election would most likely be held in the middle of February next year.