Delay in GHADC polls
SHILLONG: The polls to GHADC pending for almost one and half years will be held after the Chokpot by-elections, the District Council affairs department minister HDR Lyngdoh told reporters on Tuesday.
Lyngdoh said that while the government was committed to hold elections to GHADC, the June 27 Chokpot by-election has delayed the polls.
“The process of holding elections to GHADC will start soon after the Chokpot polls”, Lyngdoh said.
Last month, during the meeting with senior government officials and ANVC-ANVC-B factions, Shambu Singh, Joint Secretary in charge Northeast, Ministry of Home Affairs, conveyed to them that the state government was free to hold elections to GHADC and added that there was no need to link holding of elections with amendment to constitution.
Earlier, the state government had waited for the Parliament to pass amendment to sixth schedule for the increase of seats from the present 30 to 40 in GHADC as per the suggestion of both ANVC,ANVC-B groups.
After the tenure of GHADC ended on February 17 last year, the Government instead of holding elections, extended for the first time the tenure for six months since the state government wanted to complete the signing of the final peace pact with ANVC and ANVC-B.
Later in August last year, the government extended the term of the GHADC for another six months to ensure increase in the seats from the present 30 to 40 to help the cadres of ANVC-ANVC-B to take part in elections.
Yet again in December last year, the term of GHADC was again extended for a month with a purpose of preparation to hold elections.
Later, the state government again extended the term from February 17 this year expecting that the Centre will amend the Constitution during the session of Parliament, but it did not materialise.