SHILLONG: The State Government will discuss the date for holding GHADC elections in the next cabinet meeting even as Union Home Ministry has come under fire for speaking in different tongues on the issue.
While the same Union Home Ministry earlier asked the State Government to delay the elections, in a change of stand, the Home Ministry has now favoured elections to GHADC.
During the last March Assembly session, the State Government had to desperately defend its stand of not holding elections to GHADC by quoting a letter of Ajay Kanoujia, Director (NE-II) that the elections should be delayed since the Union Government was planning to go for amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the constitution to increase seats in the council from the current 30 to 40. The State Government had also come under flak from the Opposition for the delay in holding GHADC elections.
However, recently, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, in charge Northeast Shambu Singh told the Additional Chief Secretary in charge home and political K. S. Kropha and ANVC leaders in Delhi during a meeting that the State Government was free to hold elections.
An official while pointing out the different stand of the Centre, said on Saturday that in the wake of new suggestion of Union Home Ministry not to link holding elections with amendment to constitution to increase seats in GHADC from the current 30 to 40 , the State Government will have to hold elections.
“The matter was to be listed in the last cabinet meeting, but since other issues came under discussion, the agenda will be listed in the next cabinet meeting”, the official added.
