SHILLONG: The State government has decided to hold election for the existing 29 seats in Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) next year.
“We will proceed with the election in GHADC with the existing seats pending the amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for increasing of the number seats in the Council as indicated in the Agreed Text For Settlement (ATS) which was signed with the ANVC and ANVC-B,” Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a Cabinet meeting held here on Tuesday.
According to Sangma, the amendment of the relevant provisions of the Sixth Schedule will take some time in order to increase the number of seats in GHADC adding that it should also apply to the other two autonomous district councils – KHADC and JHADC.
The State government had earlier extended twice the tenure of the GHADC by six months. The tenure of the council was first extended for six months with effect from February 18this year and the extension period expired on August 17.
When asked about the tentative date for holding the election, Sangma said that so far, the Government has not decided anything in this regard.
Meanwhile, he informed that the Government will complete the exercise which is required as per the ATS by the first week of December.