Shillong, March 30: BJP leader Bernard Marak has sought the intervention of Governor CH Vijayashankar to bring the GHADC under administrator’s rule.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the governor, Bernard said,” The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council should be brought under administrator’s rule for the six-month extended period”.
Bernard thanked the governor for clearing the Bill making Scheduled Tribe certificates mandatory for candidates to contest the GHADC polls
Marak also called for early elections after a special intensive revision of the electoral roll.
Marak said the population surge in the plains poses a challenge to the tribal community.
Marak said he welcomed Governor’s speedy assent but insisted the next step — a special intensive revision (SIR) of voters — be expanded across Garo Hills, especially in the plains where, he claimed, electors had doubled from 5,000 to 10,000–11,000 in five years.
“Bonafide citizens of Garo Hills will not be disturbed,” he said, but migrants and dual voters should be examined.
“The population rate is rising very high. So these issues we have discussed today and the Governor has taken cognizance.”
According to Marak, while the council’s term is ending on April 18, the Governor should take over the administration instead of it being controlled by the executive committee linked to political parties.
“Since our term is till April 18, I would request that instead of giving it to the executive committee which will benefit only members of certain political party or parties, the GHADC should be under the direct control of the Governor, and it will be a better decision. Even if the term is extended it should be under the control of the governor,” Marak said.
To a question, Marak said, “Yes, the Governor’s rule can be imposed… But why to give the executive committee of the GHADC more time when the time has already expired. Instead if Governor had taken over the district council affairs, things would have been different. Otherwise, the committee has to be formed, the committee will submit the report, I don’t know it will not only take six months, it may go to one year also or maybe two years you never know. So that political benefit or privilege should not be given to certain political parties only, if it should benefit, it should benefit all. Therefore, it should be under the control of the Governor. I think that will be faster and better. ”
Marak said the Governor assured a very speedy step on SIR and that a formal request for Governor’s rule would be submitted.
The council is currently under a six-month extension. The decision was taken following the recent violent protests against non-tribals’ participation in the GHADC polls.
Marak alleged that his motion to make Scheduled Tribe certificates mandatory for GHADC candidates was rejected on November 27, 2025 during the session because he was treated as opposition, a designation he says does not exist in the council.
“Officially I have moved a motion regarding this…on November 27, last year…but…the ruling have not accept it, saying that I am from the opposition,” Marak said
“In district council there is no provision for opposition, but…last five years we have been kept in opposition, we have been deprived of so many facilities”, Bernard said.
He said the Governor “has taken serious note of it because this is not discrimination to elected members but also…to the people who have elected a member.”
The ST-mandatory Bill cleared the House on March 23, 2026 and received the Governor’s assent March 24.
Marak said credit belonged to MDCs across parties, not the state government.
Bernard pointed out that he had sought an amendment to Rule 8 Sub Para A to specify “schedule tribe, indigenous citizen of India,” but the House moved fast that day.
“They were very hasty to pass the Bill…that one line” was left out, it would be corrected. The residency and roll checks fall under Rule 128 and a committee is reviewing the electoral roll”
