Meghalaya Cabinet has decided to postpone the ensuing election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Meghalaya Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Conrad K Sangma, on Thursday.

The election was earlier scheduled to be held on April 9, 2021.

The GHADC election has been postponed due to the Assam Assembly election 2021, which is scheduled to be held on March 27, April 1 & April 6, 2021.

The people of Lower Assam including Goalpara and Kamrup Rural districts, which share the inter-state border with Meghalaya, will vote in the third phase of the Assam Assembly election 2021, scheduled to be held on April 6, 2021

Sharing the decision of the Cabinet, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on his Twitter handle said,: “Due to the 3rd phase of the #AssamAssemblyElections2021 on the 6th of April, 2021 in Lower Assam, Cabinet has decided to postpone the polling date of the GHADC General Elections from the 9th of April to the 12th of April 2021 to ensure smooth execution of the GHADC elections.”

The Meghalaya Cabinet also approved a scheme for grant of ex gratia payment to victims, who are killed or become disabled due to incidents of mob violence and lynching in Meghalaya.

If any person loses his or her life due to such incidents in Meghalaya, the next of kin will get Rs. 2 lakh and those, who suffer any physical disability, will get Rs 1 lakh as ex gratia payment.

Sharing the decision, chief minister Conrad Sangma tweeted:  “A scheme for grant of ex gratia payment to victims killed/disabled due to incidents of mob violence & lynching in Meghalaya was approved by Cabinet. For loss of life, Rs. 2 Lakhs will be given to the next of kin & Rs 1 Lakh to individuals who suffer any disability consequently.”