SHILLONG: In an anomalous turn of events, NCP’s lone MLA, Saleng A Sangma, who happens to be a supporter of the ruling NPP-led MDA government, has opposed the intention of the government to extend tenure of the executive committee of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by another six months.
Speaking to media persons on Saturday, the vocal MLA from Garo Hills said that people have elected the MDCs of the GHADC for five years and the extension of the tenure of these elected MDCs beyond five years cannot be justified.
“It will be just wastage of the public exchequer if the elected MDCs are allowed to remain in office,” Sangma said.
He suggested that the state government should instead impose Administrator’s Rule in the GHADC until elections of the Council are held.
“I understand that the government wants to extend the tenure of the present house since they are not able to hold the election in view of COVID-19 situation. But I am of a strong view that Administrator Rule should be immediately imposed in the GHADC,” the lone NCP MLA stated.
Stating that he had even opposed a similar move when preceding Congress-led regime extended the term of the house of the Council without any valid reason, Sangma said, “The MDCs have no right to continue in office after the tenure of five years. I am going to write to the Chief Minister on this matter”.
Earlier, District Council Affairs (DCA) Minister, Hamletson Dohling, had informed that the state government is all set to extend the GHADC term by six months.
The DCA department is likely to prepare a cabinet memo which will be placed before the Cabinet for the extension of the term of the present house in the GHADC by another six months.
Earlier, the state government had planned to hold the elections in October this year but in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the slated poll has been held in abeyance.