Demand for postponing GHADC polls only in two constituencies
Shillong, March 20: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has slammed the Congress for demanding selective postponement of the GHADC elections, accusing the party of disregarding the public sentiment.
“Whether the Congress especially in Garo Hills does not see or realise the aspiration of the people — that is what I want to ask,” the deputy chief minister also in-charge of District Council Affairs said while responding to Congress working president Deborah Marak’s proposal to revoke GHADC elections only in Shyamnagar and Balachanda constituencies.
Tynsong said Congress leaders were simply “finding fault with the decision taken by the state government” rather than engaging with ground realities.
Earlier, Marak criticised the government for extending the term of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) by six months following violent protests over non‑tribal participation in the election.
She argued that elections could go ahead in 27 constituencies and be suspended only in the two disputed seats – Shyamnagar and Balachanda – with substantial non-tribal population.
“They could have suspended these two constituencies, allowed polls elsewhere, and let a new executive committee find a good mechanism to solve the ongoing problem,” she had said.
Questioning Marak’s argument, the deputy chief minister said, “If they say only two constituencies’ elections should be revoked, then I fail to understand in what way they mean… Such statements are so irresponsible.”
He stressed that the state acted to “ensure and attend to the aspiration of the people, the sentiments of the people” following unrest.
The government deferred the GHADC polls – earlier scheduled for April 10 – and extended the Council’s term till 18 October 2026 citing law‑and‑order concerns.
Congress has demanded an all‑party meeting and immediate polls elsewhere.
