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

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

The move follows a decision by the National People’s Party (NPP)-led GHADC to amend its electoral rules, requiring all candidates to possess valid ST certificates. The amendment effectively restricts contesting of GHADC elections to tribal candidates for the first time since the council was established in 1952.

The development comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with weeks of violent protests reported over the issue of non-tribal participation in the council elections. In response to the unrest, the state government had earlier extended the tenure of the GHADC by six months. The elections, initially scheduled for April 10, have since been deferred.

Officials indicated that the rule change is aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over the protection of tribal rights and ensuring that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule are upheld in the functioning of the autonomous district council.