Shillong, March 24: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on March 23 described the passage of a key amendment restricting candidature in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to Scheduled Tribe members as a defining moment in his political career, stating that he sought the blessings of his late father Purno A Sangma before supporting the move.
In a message shared on social media, the Chief Minister said his father had always emphasised standing firm on principles and prioritising the interests of the people. He termed the development “historic”, noting that it came 74 years after the council’s establishment in 1952.
The amendment, passed unanimously during a special session of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council convened by Governor C H Vijayashankar, makes it mandatory for candidates contesting council elections to possess Scheduled Tribe certification. The move fulfils a long-standing demand raised by tribal organisations in the region.
Sangma also urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council to adopt similar measures, calling for alignment in preserving tribal identity across the state’s autonomous councils.
The decision follows weeks of unrest in parts of Garo Hills, where protests over the participation of non-tribal candidates in council elections had escalated into violence, resulting in at least two deaths. In response to the situation, the state government had deferred the GHADC elections, originally scheduled for April 10, and extended the council’s tenure by six months.
Despite the tensions leading up to the amendment, the Chief Minister framed the development as a significant step towards safeguarding the rights and identity of the Garo community, while acknowledging the influence of his father’s legacy in shaping the decision.
