SHILLONG: The Urban Affairs Department will hold talks with stakeholders to iron out the creases before holding municipal election.
Talking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said as per the Municipal Act, there are 27 wards and the state government had tried twice or thrice to conduct election. It also filed an affidavit last year saying it may conduct election in five wards.
The state Cabinet has asked the Urban Affairs Department to hold talks with all stakeholders.
The government initiated the spadework after a contempt case was filed against it in the high court.
The state is treading cautiously as there was opposition against civic polls from some quarters, like the Khasi Students’ Union.
Tynsong said after the department’s meetings with stakeholders, it “will come back to the government and see whether amendment of the Municipal Act is required”.
Earlier, in 1999, the Supreme Court had observed that municipal election may be held within six months in accordance with law. As there was a delay, a fresh PIL was filed in the court which was disposed of on April 11, 2017.
“We are satisfied that the state government had been carrying out its responsibilities as regards (to) holding of Municipal Elections but same could only be held in accordance with the constitutional mandate and in that regard, the process of proper modification of the provisions of the Meghalaya Municipal Act of 1973 appears unavoidable,” the court had said.
Stating that the Urban Affairs Department has to do an extensive homework, the deputy chief minister said the government conducted election in 1998 and out of 27 wards, five (ward numbers 2, 21, 23, 24 and 26) were duly elected.
He also informed that the government in 2000 intended to conduct election but it could not be held as only nomination papers were filed which too were withdrawn later.
“We want to see that once the order for the election is issued, it has to be held peacefully,” Tynsong said.
