SHILLONG, Jan 30: The District Council Affairs Department has directed the district election officers, sub-divisional officers and returning officers to instruct the headmen and Dorbar Shnongs to allow public meeting of all political parties including independent candidates.
The Voice of the People Party had on Tuesday urged the state government to issue a general direction to all village headmen, Rangbah Shnongs, Sordar Shnongs, and Dorbars to refrain from taking any step that hinders the conduct of a free and fair election. The party highlighted instances of VPP candidates facing the problem of obtaining permission to hold public meetings or campaigns from the office of the village headmen in both Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts.