By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 15: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday admitted that anti-incumbency will be a significant factor in the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, but insisted the NPP-led state government has taken meaningful steps to tackle chronic problems in the autonomous councils, particularly persistent salary delays and administrative bottlenecks.
Addressing reporters, Sangma described anti-incumbency as an unavoidable reality for any ruling party. “Anti-incumbency is always there, there is no doubt about it, and we take that very seriously,” he said. He explained that public frustration often stems from the councils’ limited financial resources, which restrict their ability to deliver on expectations.
He clarified that anti-incumbency operates at two levels—against the ruling government overall and against individual sitting MDCs—and noted that it impacts all parties with incumbents, not just the NPP. “If it affects one party, it affects others as well. It is across the board,” Sangma added.
On the sensitive issue of delayed salaries to GHADC employees, which could hurt the NPP electorally, the Chief Minister emphasised that the government has acted with caution to preserve the constitutional autonomy of the district councils.
“We have refrained from direct intervention because it is a sensitive matter. We moved forward only after deep consultations at all levels,” he said, stressing that every stakeholder was involved in the decision-making process.
Sangma highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring timely salary payments.
He cited the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) as a successful example, where an advance payment mechanism has been introduced, with funds later adjusted to avoid future delays. “Similar systems are now being put in place across councils to ensure salaries are paid on time,” he noted.
He expressed encouragement over recent feedback from council employees. “About a month ago, I saw video clips of employees who were earlier very upset. They were thanking the government for intervening and said their salaries are now on track,” Sangma said.
To further strengthen council functioning, the government has constituted committees headed by Deputy Commissioners and including non-political members of society to evaluate performance and recommend improvements. “Some councils perform very well, while others face challenges. Wherever there are issues, we are there to support them,” he assured.
On the long-standing and contentious demand to bar non-tribals from participating in district council elections, Sangma called it a highly complex matter involving historical context, legal questions, and social implications. “This has been debated for many years. It cannot be addressed through simplistic positions,” he said, adding that the NPP continues internal discussions to find a balanced, broadly acceptable solution.
Reaffirming the party’s seriousness about the polls, Sangma said preparations are already underway at the grassroots level. “We take every election seriously, and a lot of activities are already in motion,” he stated.
He also ruled out any current proposal to extend the tenure of the existing GHADC amid the ongoing delimitation exercise.
Sangma also updated on the 125th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to empower autonomous district councils. He said the state government is actively following up with the Centre for its passage, noting that earlier delays were linked to streamlining issues in other states, which he expects have now been resolved.
