Meghalaya cabinet extends GHADC term for six months

The Meghalaya cabinet has approved a second six-month extension for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), delaying elections until at least April 2027. This decision exhausts the maximum one-year extension permitted under current law.

The delay follows previous postponements caused by communal violence in the Garo Hills regarding the participation of non-tribal members. Consequently, electoral rules have been revised to restrict voting and candidacy to Scheduled Tribe members through a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Opposition leaders and NGOs have raised concerns regarding the transparency of the ongoing delimitation process. Specifically, allegations have been made that members of the Delimitation Committee are politically affiliated with the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), leading to calls for greater independence in redrawing constituencies.