It looks like the elections to the two District Councils of the State will be delayed and may not be held in time next year.
After the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) decided to conduct delimitation of its 29 constituencies, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) also has taken the same step after the Governor gave his approval to setting up of delimitation committee for JHADC constituencies.
The term of the present houses in KHADC and JHADC will expire on March 5, 2024 and as such the elections have to be held by February 2024. But with the delimitation exercises being carried out, there is possibility of deferring the elections to a later date.
Recently, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had said that there was no fixed timeframe to the delimitation committees of both KHADC and JHADC to complete their exercise and submission of report and recommendations.
Meanwhile, the delimitation committee of KHADC has started the process of holding public hearings in various areas.
Public hearings for the two constituencies of South West Khasi Hills – Mawkyrwat and Langrin were held at the KHADC office at Mawkyrwat on November 21. Similarly, the committee also held a public hearing at Mairang on November 24 for Mairang-Nongkhlaw and Pariong-Mawthadraishan constituencies under Eastern West Khasi Hills.
For the constituencies of Sohryngkham, Mawkynrew, Nongkrem, Lyngkyrdem-Laitkroh, Nongshken and Mawsynram under East Khasi Hills, the public hearing will be held at Shillong on November 28.
For Sohra and Shella constituencies, the public hearing will be held at Sohra Civil Sub-Division office on December 1.
For Jirang, Nongpoh, Mawhati, Umsning and Umroi under Ri-Bhoi district, the public hearing will be held at Nongpoh on December 6.
Moreover, for Mylliem, Laban-Mawprem, Nongthymmai, Laitumkhrah-Malki, Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah, Jaiaw, Mawlai, Mawphlang, Diengiei and Nongspung-Sohiong, the public hearing will be held at Shillong on December 13.
Finally, for the constituencies of Nongstoin, Rambrai-Jyrngam and Mawshynrut under West Khasi Hills, the public hearing will be held at Nongstoin on December 15.
Chairman of the KHADC delimitation committee Stralwell Kharsyiemlieh recently said that the committee would try to complete the process at the earliest possible.
According to him, the executive committee of KHADC has not set any timeframe but has just requested the committee to submit its report at the earliest.
The delimitation process is for adjustment of voters in the KHADC constituencies so that there is parity in the number of voters.
