Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Monday announced that elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) will be held on April 10, with counting of votes scheduled for April 14.
The announcement was made by Cabinet Minister Wailadmiki Shylla following a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
According to the schedule, the gazette notification for the polls will be issued on March 9. The last date for filing nominations is March 16. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on the same day after 3 pm, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until March 17. The final list of validly nominated candidates, along with the allotment of election symbols, will be published on March 18.
The GHADC is one of the three autonomous district councils in Meghalaya constituted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. It is vested with legislative and administrative powers over specified subjects in the tribal areas of the Garo Hills region.
Officials said preparations are underway in coordination with district administrations and law enforcement agencies to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.
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The polls are expected to witness direct contests in several constituencies. The opposition All India Trinamool Congress is gearing up for a head-to-head battle, while the ruling National People’s Party has announced a list of 24 candidates. Notably, the party has denied a ticket to the incumbent Chief Executive Member of the council, indicating a significant internal reshuffle ahead of the elections.
