Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma defended the move to restrict voting and candidature in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council elections to Scheduled Tribe members. He argued the decision aligns with the council’s constitutional mandate to shield indigenous rights. The state government changed the rules after years of public pressure and intense protests.
Agitation peaked in March when riots left two people dead. The violence forced officials to postpone the April 10 polls. Sangma insists the government acted with public support. The new framework limits participation to tribal members recognized in Meghalaya and lowers the voting age from 21 to 18.
These changes follow a legal setback. The Meghalaya High Court previously struck down an executive order requiring tribal certificates because it bypassed formal rule-making. The GHADC (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, now provide the required legal standing.
Credit for the policy remains a flashpoint. Congress MP Saleng A. Sangma challenged the NPP government for claiming the victory. He stated, "The achievement belonged to the people and organisations such as the Garo Students’ Union and the Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People, which had sustained the demand through years of agitation, arrests and the loss of young lives." The GHADC operates under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect local customs and tribal autonomy.
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