Meghalaya Governor approves ST certificate mandate for GHADC candidates

SHILLONG, MAR 24: Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar on Tuesday approved amended rules making Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates mandatory for candidates contesting Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.

“Would like to thank the Hon’ble Governor for approving the amended rules making it mandatory for candidates to have ST certificates to contest in the GHADC elections,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma posted on X, confirming the decision.

This came a day after the National People’s Party (NPP)-led GHADC amended its rules to require every candidate to hold a Scheduled Tribe certificate, effectively restricting elections to tribal contestants for the first time since the council’s creation in 1952.

On Monday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma hailed the move as “truly historic” during the council session.

“…in the district council session, the House passed a historic resolution… where it is made mandatory for any candidates who are contesting to have a Scheduled Tribe certificate,” Sangma had said.

“This is a very important decision… District councils are traditionally meant for the tribals of the region. It has been a long‑pending demand of the people, but for the past 74 years none of the governments or the district councils were able to do this.”

The amendment inserts a certificate requirement into GHADC’s election regulations, closing a loophole that had allowed non‑tribal residents to stand for seats in a body originally established under the Sixth Schedule to safeguard tribal self‑governance.

Sangma had also appealed for calm acceptance “I am sure all our non‑tribal friends will understand that this council is always meant for the tribals… I am sure there will be cooperation from all angles and we will all work together in peace and harmony to ensure we take Garo Hills and the entire state and the region forward,” he had stated.

The decision also comes after the state government’s decision to extend the current tenure of the GHADC by six months following weeks of violent protests against non-tribal participation in the council elections, which was earlier scheduled to be held on April 10.