Shillong, Dec 15 : The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will meet in Tura on December 18 to discuss the controversial issue of non-tribal candidates contesting the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).

While non-tribals do not contest elections to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), the political parties have been putting up candidates for the Garo polls for the past few years in the three non-tribal dominated constituencies, Phulbari, Rajabala and Mahendraganj.

This time, however, the Garo Students Union (GSU) protested against the move of the political parties putting up non-tribal candidates saying that the very purpose of the formation of the district councils, which is meant to protect the tribal identity, will be diluted and defeated. The students’ body is also irked by the Congress stand in fielding two-non tribal candidates in the plain constituencies of Garo Hills.

However, NCP leader P.A. Sangma today told reporters that out of the three non-tribal dominated constituencies in Garo Hills, the party has already put up two Garo candidates in Rajabala and Mahendraganj.

“We are yet to decide on the remaining Phulbari constituency,” Sangma said.

He agreed that the main objective of formation of the district councils was to protect the interests of the three tribes of the state.

“The very fact that it is Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, means that the council is for the Garo tribe and not even for other tribes in Garo Hills like Hajong and Rabha, leave alone the non-tribals,” Sangma said.

He said according to the Constitution, a person who resided in a place for more than 12 years, has the right to vote and there is no bar for him to contest the council elections too. He, however, favoured an all-party meeting to thoroughly discuss the matter.

Former chief minister and Congress leader D.D. Lapang said there is restriction for the non-tribals to contest elections to the KHADC and the JHADC as the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution was amended in the past to prevent others to contest in these district council polls.

However, the same amendment was not carried out in the GHADC, thereby making provisions for the non-tribal candidates to contest the council election in Garo Hills.

Sangma, however, said the party would go by the wishes of a majority of the people of Garo Hills in fielding candidates to the district council in all the 29 constituencies.

He said if the NCP put up Garo candidates in all the seats for the election, then other parties, including the Congress, may also follow the same.