Tura, March 24, 2026:The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), led by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and the National People’s Party (NPP), approved a constitutional amendment making it mandatory for all candidates to possess a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate to contest council elections.
Chief Minister also assured that the GHADC electoral Roll will be revisited.

The historic announcement was made by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at a massive rally in Tura among the Garo people, in the presence of Cabinet Minister Marcuise Marak, Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, and other party leaders at NPP office.

The decision comes after significant unrest in Garo Hills earlier this month, when non-tribal candidates filed nominations for MDC ekecyion. The state government postponed the elections and directed GHADC to convene a Special Session to address the issue.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma’s leadership, in resolving this decades-old constitutional matter has brought an end to a long-standing demand for exclusive tribal participation in GHADC governance. The amendment now awaits the Governor’s assent before coming into effect.

Thousands of Garo people gathered at the rally in Tura to witness this historic announcement, that restores the original intent of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.