Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said on Thursday that talks with Assam to resolve the remaining interstate border disputes will resume only after the Assam elections.
Sangma stated that the second phase of discussions, aimed at resolving six pending areas of difference, has been delayed as the Assam government is currently occupied with election-related engagements.
“Elections are around the corner, so politically speaking, the current dispensation there is not in a position to engage right now,” he told reporters. “Once the elections are over, we will move forward again and continue the process.”
In March 2022, the two states had signed a memorandum of understanding to settle six out of the 12 disputed border areas. The remaining issues are expected to be addressed in the next round of talks.
The Chief Minister also announced an aggressive push to complete fencing along Meghalaya’s nearly 440-km international border with Bangladesh. He said around 40 km of the border remains unfenced and that the state government, in coordination with the Centre, is working to expedite the process.
“We are moving very aggressively on that and I hope things will be resolved soon,” Sangma said. He added that issues such as land acquisition, population concerns and pending court cases have slowed progress in certain stretches, particularly in West Jaintia Hills district.
He further said that the state government, Border Security Force (BSF) and intelligence agencies remain on high alert along the international border. A review meeting with the BSF and Intelligence Bureau was held on December 24, 2025, to assess the overall security situation.
On the issue of illegal immigration, Sangma said the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government would hold consultations with political parties and civil society organisations on a proposed ILP-like mechanism under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
“We will invite all political parties and civil society organisations to discuss this proposal. It would be incorrect to jump to any conclusion without examining the content and the entire mechanism,” he said.
Emphasising that the core concern is illegal immigration, Sangma added, “The issue is not ILP, not the immigration Act, not MRSSA. We need laws and mechanisms to check illegal immigration.”
He urged opposition parties to engage in constructive dialogue, assuring that the government is open to making changes if any shortcomings are identified in the proposal.
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Refuting claims by opposition leader Mukul Sangma that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) has not been implemented, the Chief Minister asserted that the law is being enforced in several localities, though challenges remain due to infrastructure and resource constraints.
