and the State Government will have to wait for completion of upcoming Lok Sabha election and subsequent formation of a new Government at the Centre to get the draft peace pact ratified by Parliament after the approval of the Union Cabinet, thereby making it futile the plan of the State Government to hold elections in GHADC after six months.
The 15th Lok Sabha ended on Friday.
It is also unlikely that the UPA Cabinet will give its nod to the peace pact with ANVC at this juncture.
The matter is still pending with the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs which is headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Even if the Union cabinet approves the peace pact, this will not lead to strengthening of district councils as the Constitution needs to be amended by the Parliament to increase its strength from 30 to 40.
The Union cabinet can give nod only to more funding and other means of empowerment of GHADC.
The ANVC had demanded increase of seats from the present 30 including one nominated member to a total of 40 seats in GHADC which will also be applicable to Khasi and Jaintia Hills once approved by the Parliament.
Pending approval of the Parliament, any future elections to GHADC will be held only for the existing 29 seats.
According to sources, the State Government should have conducted the elections to GHADC along with KHADC and JHADC scheduled for February 24.
