Shillong, Sept. 16: The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has opposed the municipal elections in Shillong, which has been pending for the past 41 years.

The government recently made efforts to hold the elections and wanted it to be over by December. However, in a statement issued here today, the HNLC argued that with the traditional institutions like the rangbah shnong (headman) already existing in Shillong, there was no question of having another authority. The recent decision of the government to hold the elections was to have the representation of headmen in the Shillong Municipal Board.

After the Supreme Court had directed the state government to hold the municipal elections following a petition filed by the Non Tribal Youth Union, the government in November 2000 issued notifications for holding elections. Only one person, a Shillong-based businessman, Ananta Dey, filed nominations. However, he was shot dead by suspected HNLC militants.

Several NGOs in the state in the past had also opposed the municipal elections expressing fear that once the ward commissioners were elected to the municipal board, the powers of the headmen would be eroded.

The publicity secretary of the HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw, has criticised urban affairs minister Paul Lyngdoh, who recently made an announcement that for implementation of various central schemes under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, holding of elections was necessary.

The HNLC said the attempt of the Centre to implement the urban mission in Shillong was a political game aimed at brainwashing the people of Meghalaya to help holding the municipal elections.

The HNLC publicity secretary also pointed out that the holding of municipal elections as wished by both the Centre and the state government could be compared to the divide and rule policy initiated by the British.

The outfit said the policy of the government to go ahead with municipal elections was an attempt to belittle the traditional system of governance in Meghalaya.

The state government recently formed a working group to study certain provisions of the Municipal Act aimed at amending it to accommodate the interests of the traditional institutions.

According to the urban affairs minister, the elections to Shillong Municipal Board will give legal status to the heads of traditional institutions. Lyngdoh also indicated that the rangbah shnong (headman) could be actively involved in urban governance if an election is held to the Shillong Municipal Board.