In a sharp critique of the State Cabinet’s decision to extend the tenure of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday asserted that elections can be suspended only in two MDC constituencies—Shyamnagar and Balachanda—while polls should be conducted in the remaining 27 constituencies, arguing that a blanket deferment undermines democratic processes despite unrest being limited to specific pockets.
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee Working President Deborah C Marak said, “The term of the existing house of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council is extended for six months, I don’t agree to that, if you want to suspend elections then suspend elections in the two constituencies only, let elections go on in the remaining 27 constituencies. Six months it is not a matter of joke. Congress party will never endorse for. We will pressurize the government to have a elections early, if needed these two constituencies can be suspended for the time being. New Executive Committee can take over and find out good mechanism how to go about the elections. Two constituencies Shyamnagar and Balachanda constituencies. What is the harm in holding elections in those constituencies where there is no problem, only problem is there in these two constituencies and government can suspend elections in these two constituencies for the time being.”
The GHADC elections were scheduled to be held on April 10 but were deferred following unrest in parts of Garo Hills. The State government subsequently approved an extension of the Council’s tenure till October 18, 2026. The Congress working President maintained that while disturbances in Shyamnagar and Balachanda may justify a temporary suspension of polling in those areas, proceeding with elections in the remaining 27 constituencies would uphold democratic continuity and prevent an unnecessary prolongation of the existing House.
