Meghalaya to soon announce calendar for holding ADC by-polls

Meghalaya government today said it would soon announce the calendar for holding the by-elections for the seven vacant seats to the two autonomous district councils (ADCs).
The seats had fallen vacant after elected members resigned in the wake of a legislation last year preventing them from holding two elected posts.
"The proposal for a calendar for holding of elections to the various vacancies will be forwarded to the Governor," Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said today.
The District Council Affairs (DCA) minister Prestone Tynsong said once the Governor gives nod to the proposal, the calendar will accordingly be approved and announced.

"Though the seats have to be filled, there is no specific time frame for holding the bye-elections so far the ADCs are concerned," said Tynsong.
Out of the eight legislators who held two elected posts, seven have resigned after the House passed the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) (Amendment) Act, 2015, which seeks to end holding of dual posts by the MLAs, last year.

One of the defiant Congress legislator, PN Syiem, who also holds charge of the Khasi hills Autonomous District Council chief, however refused to relinquish from either the post of MLA or MDC.

His decision not to step down from either of the two posts got a fillip when the Governor gave an order in his favour in May 31 last citing that his holding the post of MDC did not attract disqualification as per Article 191 of the Constitution.
Subsequently, the Meghalaya High Court also upheld the Governor's order while disposing of a PIL, which seeks disqualification of the 8 MLAs for holding dual posts, filed by an NGO.