SHILLONG, Dec 17 � The term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) was extended by a month by the Meghalaya Government for the third time to complete the process of elections.
�We have approved the proposal for extension of the term of the GHADC for another month,� Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after the Cabinet meeting held here today.
He said certain exercises were required to be done by the District Council Affairs (DCA) department in order to conduct the elections to the GHADC.
�To prepare for the elections, the department felt it will need some more time and has submitted a proposal for extension of the Council�s term,� he said.
Earlier, the term of GHADC had expired on February 17, since the government wanted to complete the signing of the final peace agreement with the two rebel outfits � ANVC and ANVC(B), which were disbanded on Monday.
However, in August, the government decided to extend the term of the Council for another six months to ensure that the seats in the District Council was strengthened allowing the cadres of both outfits to participate in the elections.
Recently, the Chief Minister had said election to the GHADC would be held only in the existing seats since increasing seats in the Council would require amendment of the Sixth Schedule.
DCA Minister HDR Lyngdoh said, the department would complete all election processes within a month.
The Chief Minister said the extension was based on discussions with the district administration and Department of Education and other civil society bodies and added elections to the GHADC was likely to be held in March, 2015. � PTI