Meghalaya: GHADC Elections Postponed After West Garo Hills Violence

SHILLONG- The Meghalaya government has postponed the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), originally scheduled for April 10, following violent clashes in West Garo Hills district that left two people dead.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the decision on Wednesday, stating that the elections were deferred “keeping sentiments of the people in mind.” He said the government would later decide the next course of action regarding the electoral process.

The decision came a day after two persons were killed in suspected police firing during clashes in the Chibinang area of West Garo Hills. The violence broke out amid tensions surrounding the nomination process for the council elections.

Also Read- Army Deployed in West Garo Hills, Class 12 Exams Postponed

According to police officials, the confrontation involved members of tribal and non-tribal communities. Both victims were non-tribal residents of the district, Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal told reporters.

Authorities subsequently deployed security forces, including the Army, and imposed restrictions in sensitive areas to restore normalcy.

Also Read- Two Killed in Police Firing in West Garo Hills, Curfew imposed, Internet suspended

The unrest is linked to growing tensions between tribal and non-tribal communities in the region in recent months. The tensions intensified after a Garo man associated with the organisation ACHIK died in January after reportedly being attacked by unidentified assailants during a visit to an alleged illegal stone quarry in the Rajabala area.

The controversy deepened when the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council issued a notification requiring candidates contesting the council election to possess a Scheduled Tribe certificate. The directive effectively barred non-tribal candidates from contesting.

Also Read- Road to Lachen Reopens After 2025 Landslides in Sikkim 

Leaders of non-tribal communities criticised the move, describing it as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The dispute reached the Meghalaya High Court, which on Tuesday set aside the notification.

The court held that the requirement for candidates to submit a Scheduled Tribe certificate could not withstand legal scrutiny under the 1951 Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, which govern elections to autonomous district councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Also Read- 450 Chinese Border Villages Face India’s Northeast

The High Court observed that the rules had remained unchanged since the formation of the council and preserved the right of every enrolled voter—tribal or non-tribal—to contest elections or participate as a voter.

Tensions had already escalated during the nomination process earlier in the week. On Monday, a group of around 50 people allegedly assaulted former Phulbari MLA Esmatur Mominin when he was heading to the district commissioner’s office to file his nomination papers.

Following the incident, authorities imposed a night curfew in 37 sensitive villages of the district to prevent further escalation.

The GHADC election, a key political exercise in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region, has now been deferred until further notice as the state government reviews the situation and considers the next steps.