SHILLONG: In a huge setback to the Congress led MUA-II government, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the former to delink amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and holding of elections in the GHADC.
The State Government had kept on hold the elections to GHADC harping on amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution to increase the seats in GHADC to 40 from the current 30.
Speaking to The Shillong Times over phone on Friday, Shambu Singh, Joint Secretary in charge Northeast, Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the State Government is free to hold elections to GHADC any time.
According to Singh, the amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution will take more time and hence this should not be linked to holding of elections to the GHADC.
The need to delink amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and holding of elections was conveyed to senior government and police officials during their meeting with Singh in Delhi on Thursday.
Top leaders of ANVC and ANVC-B were also present during the meeting.
According to Singh, if the State Government wants, an official letter from MHA would be sent stressing the need to delink holding of GHADC elections and amending the Constitution.
It was on January 6 this year that the State Cabinet extended the tenure of the GHADC yet again with effect from February 17 stating that amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution will be carried out by the Centre soon.
Earlier, after the term of the GHADC ended on February 17 last year, the Government instead of holding elections, extended the tenure for six months for the first time stating that the State government wanted to complete the signing of the final peace pact with ANVC and ANVC-B.
Again in August last year, the State government extended the term of the GHADC for another six months to ensure increase in the seats from the present 30 to 40 in the District Council to enable the cadres of ANVC-ANVC-B to take part in elections.
However, in December last year, the term of GHADC was again extended for a month for the preparation of the Government for holding elections to GHADC.
In a change of stand, the State Government again extended the tenure of GHADC with effect from February 17 this year which will end in August.
The State Government was expecting amendment to the Constitution during the Budget session of Parliament in March, but in vain.
During the Assembly session held in March last, District Council Affairs Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh had defended extension of the tenure of the GHADC by claiming that the Government was adhering to the letter of request sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs to wait for the amendment to Constitution to hold the elections.
