The Meghalaya state cabinet on Thursday announced the holding of elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on April 9, 2021.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that the cabinet has approved the proposal of the District Council Affairs department for holding the general elections to the GHADC.
He said the date for calling the constituencies to elect their representatives will be issued on March 8 while the last date of filing of nominations and scrutiny of nomination papers will be on March 15, last date of withdrawal of nominations on March 19 and date of finalization and publication of valid nomination and allocation of symbol on March 22.
“The date of polling will be held on April 9 and the results will be declared on April 14,” Tynsong said.
The deputy chief minister also informed that the model code of conduct will come into force in the five districts of Garo Hills region from March 9.
Asked, Tynsong said Rs 15 crore will be the expenditure for the conduct of the general election to the GHADC.
“It is slightly on the higher side due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as there are many SOPs to be followed,” he said.
According to him, the election expenditure was also approved by the cabinet in the form of advance payment against the royalty share of the district council.
The GHADC is currently under the administrator’s rule after the tenure of the previous House expired on October 18, last year.
It may be mentioned here that the elections to the GHADC were held on October 12, 2015 and counting on October 15, 2015.
Earlier, the deputy chief minister informed that the date of publication of the draft electoral rolls will be on February 4 and the last date of filing of claims and objections – February 18, disposal of the same – March 1 and final publication of electoral rolls on March 6.
NNN