Shillong, Feb 4: Estimating the total expenditure for the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council to touch a figure of approximately Rs. 15 crores, the District Council Affairs Department has directed the Returning Officers of the five respective Districts of Garo Hills to spend judiciously taking into consideration the financial health of the state.
District Council Affairs Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters in Shillong, “The respective returning officers should spend judiciously taking into consideration the financial help of the district council that all avoidable expenditure is to be avoided so that the minimum possible amount could be incurred, as I said before, taking into consideration the financial health of the district council.”
Asked about expenditure, he said “We do not have the exact figure that is needed but the figure will be somewhere plus minus Rs 15 Crore needed for conducting the GHADC election,” even as he maintained that the amount will be spent from the share of the district council.
The 2021 Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election is different from 2015 as the shadow of both GNLA and ULFA (I) is no longer there, and Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui who is holding additional charge of District Council Affairs assured that the state Government will ensure smooth conduct of the elections.
When asked if he foreseen any kind of militant regrouping or attempts at disrupting the upcoming council polls, he replied, “I don’t foresee anything on that, In fact, I foresee that this election will run very smoothly, and I seek the cooperation of people and the stakeholders and also request the deputy commissioners of respective districts and the SPs of respective districts to see the preparation and conduct of the election should be done smoothly.”
February 4, Thursday marked the publication of the draft electoral roll for the conduct of the GHADC poll, as the preparation for the polls has begun.
“The commissioner secretary of DCA last week held a meeting with the deputy commissioners of different districts so that to inform them and see what can be done for the smooth conduction of the election,” added Rymbui.
Asked if the model code of conduct will come into effect across the entire state in view of the council polls in Garo Hills, the home minister said, “There are some policy decisions which affect the whole state and there are some decisions which do not affect the whole state. For those decisions which are pertaining to Garo Hills Districts the model code of conduct will come into effect from the 8th of March.”
