Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent H Pala stated that the notification from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), which mandates candidates for the upcoming council elections to present a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate, will remain in effect unless legally contested. Pala emphasized that the regulation will be upheld until challenged in court. This comes after the High Court of Meghalaya admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC elections. The GHADC’s notification, issued on February 17, prohibits non-tribal individuals from contesting the April 10 elections by requiring possession of an ST certificate.
While various Garo tribal organizations support the GHADC’s decision, non-tribal leaders have condemned it as unconstitutional, arguing that it infringes upon their rights. Nevertheless, Pala expressed confidence in the Congress party’s prospects in the upcoming elections. He indicated that the party has finalized candidates for all 29 constituencies and is hopeful for a favorable mandate, attributing potential success to widespread public discontent with the National People’s Party (NPP), which currently leads the Executive Committee of the council. Pala also acknowledged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC), under the leadership of Mukul Sangma, could emerge as a significant challenger in the Garo Hills region.
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