The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) is not in favour of the proposed extension to the term of the current Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) because there is no emergency to justify it.
KHNAM vice-president Thomas Passah today said that the party would not object to the proposal of the state government to extend the term of the council by six months if it is done in line with provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The cabinet had recently given its nod to the extension, which has been requested as the KHADC and its Jaintia Hills counterpart (JHADC) have constituted respective delimitation committees to redraw the constituency boundaries where necessary.
However, according to Passah, only an emergency that “renders the holding of elections impracticable” can delay elections and no such emergency exists.
This is another case of the state government “interfering with the autonomy of the councils”, he added.
KHNAM will be sending a representation to the Governor to request him to uphold the provisions of the Sixth Schedule and not agree to the extension.