Shillong, Feb 18: As Meghalaya prepares for the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) elections on February 21, reports have surfaced of a candidate allegedly campaigning beyond state boundaries, deep inside Assam’s territory. The candidate, along with supporters, purportedly traveled 25 kilometers into West Karbi Anglong district, a disputed area along the Assam-Meghalaya border, to canvass among the local population.
Commissioner & Secretary in-charge of District Council Affairs (DCA) Department, Cyril Diengdoh, clarified that electioneering must remain within designated constituency boundaries. “Campaigning will happen as per the constituency boundary. The number of polling stations and villages has already been notified. The draft and final rolls were published, and only minimal amendments were made during delimitation,” he stated.
Regarding the allegations of cross-border campaigning, Diengdoh noted, “Whatever you are saying, we need to verify.” He further emphasized that as per the Model Code of Conduct, candidates must obtain prior permission from the returning officer and Deputy Commissioner for any public meetings, rallies, or processions. “The Deputy Commissioner is fully aware of where permissions are granted. There is a system in place during elections,” he added.
Allegations suggest that the candidate contesting the JHADC elections entered Assam’s West Karbi Anglong district with supporters to campaign. The region, near the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border, has long been a subject of dispute between the two states.
Meanwhile, preparations for the elections are progressing smoothly. Multiple review meetings have been held with Deputy Commissioners, with the Chief Secretary visiting ISBT Shillong to assess arrangements for the East Khasi Hills District. “The arrangements for dispatching polling parties and materials, as well as the counting process, are in place,” Diengdoh confirmed. The designated counting center for East Khasi Hills will be ISBT Shillong, excluding Sohra and Pynursla subdivisions, where polling-related activities will be managed locally.
A district-wise breakdown of polling stations and security measures has been provided. Sohra Civil Subdivision has 95 polling stations, three of which are classified as sensitive. Eastern and West Khasi Hills Districts have 141 polling stations, with 10 marked as sensitive. Pynursla has 103 polling stations with no sensitive classifications. Ri-Bhoi has 432 polling stations, with 14 critical and 16 vulnerable. East Khasi Hills has 733 polling stations, with 31 vulnerable and one critical. Nongstoin has 146 polling stations, including one critical and 28 vulnerable, while Mawkyrwat has 120 polling stations, with 25 classified as sensitive.
In KHADC, a total of 1,669 polling stations have been designated, with 88 identified as vulnerable, 16 as critical, and 25 as sensitive. In JHADC, West Jaintia Hills District (excluding Amlarem Civil Subdivision) has 241 polling stations, 47 of which are vulnerable. East Jaintia Hills has 168 polling stations, with 40 classified as vulnerable, while Amlarem Civil Subdivision has 68 polling stations, including eight vulnerable locations. In total, JHADC has 477 polling stations, with 95 categorized as vulnerable. Security measures have been put in place, with additional forces deployed to sensitive locations to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Security deployment varies across districts, with an increased presence of police personnel in sensitive polling stations. While district-wise data on border security deployment is yet to be detailed, authorities have confirmed that adequate forces are in place to address any potential concerns.
The Meghalaya government has allocated over ₹22 crore for conducting the elections, covering logistics, security, and overall poll management.