Council by-poll likely in April

SHILLONG: The District Council Affairs department is planning to conduct the elections to seven vacant posts- six in KHADC and one in JHADC- in April.
The seats fell vacant following the resignation of legislators, who were holding the posts of MDC.
A government source said on Wednesday that though the earlier plan to conduct the elections was sometime this month, the South Asian Games (SAG) and upcoming Assembly sessions and examinations have compelled the government to find a new date.
The source added that the plan of the government is to hold the election in April provided that the Cabinet approves the proposal of the District Council Affairs department.
Earlier, the Finance and Law departments had cleared the proposal of the district council affairs department to hold elections.
The seats fell vacant after the state government on October 1 passed a Bill to prevent MLAs from holding the posts of MDC.
Subsequently, seven legislators HDR Lyngdoh, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, Phlastingwell Pangniang, Brolding Nongsiej, Metbah Lyngdoh and Sanbor Shullai, all from KHADC and Stephanson Mukhim from JHADC quit the post of  MDC.
The KHADC CEM P N Syiem is the lone MDC who is yet to relinquish the post of MLA.