SHILLONG, Feb 15 ? With the Lok Sabha elections around the corner, Congress, the major partner of the Meghalaya Democratic alliance coalition, is set to rule the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), while the electorate did not give a clear mandate in two others, the Jaintia and Garo Hills Autonomous District Councils, reports PTI.
The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills autonomous district councils which do not fall under the purview of Panchayati Raj system and function under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, went to the polls on February 12. All the results of the three 30-member councils were declared last night, save one in the Sutnga constituency of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) where repoll has been ordered for tomorow because of snatching of ballot papers and attempts to tamper with ballot boxes, official sources said today.
Of 12 Ministers in the DD Lapang Government, who contested the District Council elections from the Khasi Hills district Council, under a provision which allows MLAs to enter the fray for the District Councils, eight won. Each Council has 29 elected members and one nominated member.
In KHADC, the people gave a clear mandate to the Congress which won 16 seats, its alliance partners in the assembly United Democratic Party (UDP) ? 9, KHNAM ? 2, and Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP) ? 2. Though the UDP, KHNAM and MDP are coalition partners in the assembly, there was no alliance for the district council elections.
In the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) where the people did not give a clear mandate to any party, the Congress won 9 seats followed by UDP?8, Ind?6, MDP?3, KHNAM?1 and BJP, which is an Opposition party in the Assembly, one. It was the first time that the BJP entered the district council, winning from the JHDAC?s Saipung constituency.