Shillong, Feb 5: Amid the growing hullabaloo on the decision of the Meghalaya government to extend the term of the JHADC and the KHADC by six months, the State Government on Monday clarified that the move was not unprecedented and such a decision had also been made in the past.
Leader of Opposition in the KHADC, Titosstarwell Chyne had on Sunday reiterated the demand for the Council elections to be held as scheduled notwithstanding the prevailing brouhaha over extension of the terms of the KHADC and JHADC.
Stating that everyone is entitled to their opinion, Cabinet Minister and MDA II spokesperson, Paul Lyngdoh said, “ All I can say is that this is not unprecedented”.
“In the past the Garo Hills Autonomous Council has had two years of extension when Dr Mukul Sangma was the chief minister and an extension of six months compared to the two years is relatively a very brief period,” he added.
Lyngdoh said the move was with reference to the fact that last year the state government had already been approached by the district councils for the much-needed revision and redefinition of various constituencies.
He pointed out that some of the constituencies have voters of roughly 15,000 while there are some constituencies they have three times that number.
The state government has extended the tenure of the two district councils by six months. The decision was taken by the state Cabinet which met on Friday.