RayfordFvx at 14:11, 11 March 2026

2026-03-11T14:11:47Z

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{{Short description|2026 Local government election in Meghalaya, India}}

{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2026 Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election
| country = India
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = yes
| turnout =
| previous_election = 2021 Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election
| previous_year = 2021
| next_election = 2031
| next_year = 2031
| election_date = 10 April 2026
| seats_for_election =29 out of 30 seats in the [[Garo Hills Autonomous District Council]]
| majority_seats = 16
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image=Hand INC.svg|bSize=140|cWidth=100|cHeight=120|oLeft=16|oTop=0}}
| party1 = Indian National Congress
| last_election1 = 12
| seats_before1 = 0
| seat_change1 =
| seats_needed1 = {{increase}} 16
| popular_vote1 =
| percentage1 =
| swing1 =
| leader1 = [[Vincent Pala]]

| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image=Indian Election Symbol Book.svg|bSize=120|cWidth=100|cHeight=120|oTop=2|oLeft=10}}
| party2 = National People's Party (India)
| seats2 =
| last_election2 = 11
| seats_before2 = 11
| seats_needed2 = {{increase}} 5
| seat_change2 =
| popular_vote2 =
| percentage2 =
| swing2 =
| leader2 = [[Conrad Sangma]]

| image3 = {{CSS image crop|Image=Lotus flower symbol.svg|bSize=120|cWidth=120|cHeight=120|oLeft=0|oTop=0}}
| party3 = Bharatiya Janata Party
| seats3 =
| last_election3 = 2
| seats_before3 = 2
| seats_needed3 = {{increase}} 14
| seat_change3 =
| popular_vote3 =
| percentage3 =
| swing3 =
| leader3 = [[Sanbor Shullai]]

| image4 = <div style="width:100px;"><span style="line-height:120px; vertical-align:center; text-align:center; color:{{party color|Garo National Council}}; font-size:47px;"> '''GNC'''</span></div>
| party4 = Garo National Council
| seats4 =
| last_election4 = 1
| seats_before4 = 1
| seats_needed4 = {{increase}} 15
| seat_change4 =
| popular_vote4 =
| percentage4 =
| swing4 =
| leader4 = Boston Marak

| image5 = {{CSS image crop|Image=All India Trinamool Congress logo (1).svg|bSize=120|cWidth=120|cHeight=120|oLeft=0|oTop=0}}
| party5 = All India Trinamool Congress
| seats5 =
| last_election5 = 0
| seats_before5 = 12
| seats_needed5 = {{increase}} 4
| seat_change5 =
| popular_vote5 =
| percentage5 =
| swing5 =
| leader5 = [[Mukul Sangma]]

| image6 = {{CSS image crop|Image=Indian Election Symbol Clock.png|bSize=120|cWidth=120|cHeight=120|oLeft=0|oTop=0}}
| party6 = Nationalist Congress Party
| seats6 =
| last_election6 = 0
| seats_before6 = 0
| seats_needed6 = {{increase}} 16
| seat_change6 =
| popular_vote6 =
| percentage6 =
| swing6 =

| title = Chief Executive Member
| posttitle = Chief Executive Member
| before_election = Albinush R Marak
| before_party = National People's Party (India)
| after_election =
| after_party =
}}

The '''Garo Hills ADC''' elections were scheduled to be held on 10 April 2026 to elect all 29 members of the [[Garo Hills Autonomous District Council]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya govt sets date for Garo hills district council polls on April 10 |url=https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/meghalaya-govt-sets-date-for-garo-hills-district-council-polls-on-april-10/3385071 |work=www.ptinews.com |publisher=Press Trust Of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Garo Hills Autonomous District Council Elections Scheduled for April 10, Notification on March 9 |url=https://www.newsonair.gov.in/garo-hills-autonomous-district-council-elections-scheduled-for-april-10-notification-on-march-9/ |access-date=4 March 2026 |publisher=Akashvani News}}</ref> However, the elections were postponed indefinitely due to violence in West Garo Hills.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-03-11 |title=Meghalaya CM announces postponement of April 10 polls to Garo Hills council due to violence |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/meghalaya/meghalaya-cm-announces-postponement-of-april-10-polls-to-garo-hills-council-due-to-violence/article70730256.ece |access-date=2026-03-11 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Background==
The tenure of [[Garo Hills Autonomous District Council]] is scheduled to end on 18 April 2026.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya Dy CM Prestone Tynsong Rules Out Delay in GHADC Elections |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/meghalaya/meghalaya-dy-cm-prestone-tynsong-rules-out-delay-in-ghadc-elections/ |work=Northeast Live |date=27 January 2026}}</ref> The previous elections were held on 12 April 2021.<ref>{{cite news |title=GHADC polls now on Apr 12The Shillong Times |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2021/03/05/ghadc-polls-now-on-apr-12/ |date=5 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahmed |first1=Imtiaz |title=Garo Hills Council polls deferred to April 12 in view of Assam assembly elections |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam-election-2021/story/garo-hills-council-polls-deferred-april-12-view-assam-assembly-elections-417158-2021-03-05 |access-date=4 March 2026 |work=India Today NE |date=5 March 2021 |language=hi}}</ref> After the election [[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]] formed the government and Benedict Marak sworn in as the chief executive member.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saikia |first1=Rana Pratap |title=Benedic Marak wins CEM position in Meghalaya's Garo Council |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/benedic-r-marak-wins-cem-position-meghalayas-garo-council-415808-2021-04-22 |access-date=4 March 2026 |work=India Today NE |date=22 April 2021 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: NPP-led coalition stakes claim to form Garo Hills Autonomous District Council |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/meghalaya-npp-led-coalition-stakes-claim-to-form-garo-hills-autonomous-district-council/ |work=Northeast Live |date=17 April 2021}}</ref>

==Schedule==
{| class="wikitable sortable" font-size:95%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="center"
! scope="col" | Election Event
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Time
! scope="col" | Day
|----
| Last date for filing nomination || 16 March 2026 || Before 3:00 pm || Monday
|-
| Scrutiny of nomination || 16 March 2026 || After 3:00 pm || Monday
|-
| Last date of withdrawal of candidature || 17 March 2026 || || Tuesday
|-
| Date of polling || 10 April 2026 || || Friday
|-
| Date of counting || 14 April 2026 || || Tuesday
|}

==Parties & alliances==

{| class="wikitable" width="60%" style="text-align:center;
|-
! colspan="2"|Party
! Flag
! Symbol
! Leader
! Seats contested
|-
| {{Full party name with color|National People's Party (India)}}
| [[File:NPP flag original.png|50px]]
| [[File:Indian Election Symbol Book.svg|50px]]
| [[Conrad Sangma]]
| 29
|-
| {{Full party name with color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}
| [[File:BJP Flag.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Lotus flower symbol.svg|50px]]
| [[Sanbor Shullai]]
| 23
|-
| {{Full party name with color|All India Trinamool Congress}}
| [[File:All India Trinamool Congress flag (2).svg|50px]]
| [[File:All India Trinamool Congress symbol 2021.svg|50px]]
| [[Mukul Sangma]]
| TBD
|-
| {{Full party name with color|Garo National Council}}
|
|
| Boston Marak
| TBD
|-
| {{Full party name with color|Indian National Congress}}
| [[File:Indian National Congress Flag.svg|50px]]
| [[File:Hand INC.svg|50px]]
| [[Vincent Pala]]
| 27
|-
|}

==Candidates==

{|class="wikitable"
!colspan="2"|Constituency
!colspan="1" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Party (India)}}|NPP<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: NPP releases first list of 24 candidates for upcoming GHADC polls |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-npp-releases-first-list-of-24-candidates-for-upcoming-ghadc-polls-1347030-2026-02-16 |work=India Today NE |date=16 February 2026 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: NPP Releases First List of 24 Candidates For Upcoming GHADC Polls, Drops Sitting CEM from Siju |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/meghalaya/meghalaya-npp-releases-first-list-of-24-candidates-for-upcoming-ghadc-polls-drops-sitting-cem-from-siju/ |work=Northeast Live |date=16 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: NPP Releases Second List of 5 Candidates For Upcoming GHADC Polls |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/meghalaya/meghalaya-npp-releases-second-list-of-5-candidates-for-upcoming-ghadc-polls/ |work=Northeast Live |date=6 March 2026}}</ref>
!colspan="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Indian National Congress}}|INC<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: Congress Releases First List of Candidates For GHADC Polls, Fields Sadhiarani M Sangma From Dengnakpara |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/meghalaya/meghalaya-congress-releases-first-list-of-candidates-for-ghadc-polls-fields-sadhiarani-m-sangma-from-dengnakpara/ |work=Northeast Live |date=23 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Congress releases first list of 24 candidates for GHADC polls |url=https://hubnetwork.in/congress-releases-first-list-of-24-candidates-for-ghadc-polls/ |work=Hub News |date=23 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya MPCC releases first list of candidates for GHADC polls |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/breakingnews/meghalaya-mpcc-releases-first-list-of-candidates-for-ghadc-polls |work=The Sentinel |date=24 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
!colspan="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}|BJP<ref>{{cite news |title=GHADC election: BJP announces list of 19 candidates |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/ghadc-election-bjp-announces-list-of-19-candidates/ |work=Northeast Live |date=3 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=BJP unveils second list of candidates for Meghalaya's Garo Hills council polls |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/bjp-unveils-second-list-of-candidates-for-meghalayas-garo-hills-council-polls-1354487-2026-03-03 |work=India Today NE |date=3 March 2026 |language=hi}}</ref>
!colspan="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Trinamool Congress}}|TMC<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: TMC Releases First List of Candidates For GHADC Polls |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/meghalaya/meghalaya-tmc-releases-first-list-of-candidates-for-ghadc-polls/ |work=Northeast Live |date=23 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=GHADC election: Congress, TMC announce first list of candidates {{!}} Highland Post |url=https://highlandpost.com/ghadc-election-congress-tmc-announce-first-list-of-candidates/ |date=23 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TMC announces second list of 6 candidates for GHADC polls |url=https://hubnetwork.in/tmc-announces-second-list-of-6-candidates-for-ghadc-polls/ |work=Hub News |date=28 February 2026}}</ref>
!colspan="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Garo National Council}}|GNC<ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: Garo National Council announces first seven candidates for GHADC polls |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-garo-national-council-announces-first-seven-candidates-for-ghadc-polls-1347806-2026-02-18 |work=India Today NE |date=18 February 2026 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=GNC releases first list of 7 candidates for GHADC polls - The Meghalayan Express |url=https://themeghalayanexpress.com/gnc-releases-first-list-of-7-candidates-for-ghadc-polls/ |date=17 February 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
!colspan="1" style="background-color:{{party color|Nationalist Congress Party}}|NCP<ref>{{cite news |title=GHADC polls: NCP announces second list, final slate after March 6 - The Meghalayan Express |url=https://themeghalayanexpress.com/ghadc-polls-ncp-announces-second-list-final-slate-after-march-6/ |date=3 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Meghalaya: NCP Announces 2nd List of 10 Candidates for GHADC Polls |url=https://northeastlivetv.com/topnews/meghalaya-ncp-announces-2nd-list-of-10-candidates-for-ghadc-polls/ |work=Northeast Live |date=3 March 2026}}</ref>
|-
|1
|Siju
|Calis Momin
|Kartick Marak
|Mark Pantora M Sangma
|
|
|Senggam Sangma
|-
|2
|Wagesik
|Jewil Marak
|Budhar Marak
|
|Tening Sangma
|
|
|-
|3
|Silkigre
|Jangseng Marak
|Arjun Marak
|
|Changseng Marak
|Augustine Marak
|
|-
|4
|Rongrikimgre
|Walbinath Ch Marak
|Karak sangma
|
|Witerson Sangma
|Nikman Marak
|Arnarson Marak
|-
|5
|Gasuapara
|Sengchim Sangma
|Sengrik Marak
|Alphonse Sangma
|
|
|
|-
|6
|Barengapara
|Kailson Sangma
|Gredit Sangma
|Akki A Sangma
|Sarbha Marak
|
|
|-
|7
|Babelapara
|Rakesh Sangma
|
|George Sangma
|Richard Morong Sangma
|
|
|-
|8
|Amongpara
|Balsrang Arengh
|Luckshwell Sangma
|Wilnath T Sangma
|Sairil Marak
|Jakrak Sangma
|Lordmountvrythints Momin
|-
|9
|Tura
|Charmingstar Sangma
|Prewill Ch. Marak
|Bernard Marak
|Dimseng Marak
|
|
|-
|10
|Dengnakpara
|Kredithoson Marak
|Sadhiarani Sangma
|Repsin Sangma
|Hilthudhera Marak
|Deson Marak
|Baithiram Sangma
|-
|11
|Boldamgre
|Stevie M Marak
|Binvinchand Sangma
|Drojil Sangma
|Batchor Marak
|
|
|-
|12
|Nogorpara
|Linekar Sangma
|Chand Emirald Marak
|Salibirth Sangma
|Gamrik Sangma
|
|Gracefield Ch Marak
|-
|13
|Zikzak
|Sanjay Sangma
|Premish Sangma
|Bhupandra Hajong
|Premananda Koch
|
|
|-
|14
|Betasing
|Sanjay Koch
|Ajitav Koch
|Hiralal Koch
|Hemendra Hajong
|
|Bina Rosaline Sangma
|-
|15
|Rochonpara
|Arbinstone Marak
|Ripseng Marak
|Jeberth Sangma
|
|
|Daniel Sangma
|-
|16
|Asanang
|Anseng Sangma
|Nonickha Momin
|
|Rahendra Sangma
|Geobar Marak
|Kraistone Marak
|-
|17
|Balachanda
|Andresh Marak
|Tingku Marak
|Rikse Marak
|
|
|Dominic Sangma
|-
|18
|Batabari
|Maxwell Sangma
|Ruth Tamera Sangma
|Clement Marak
|
|
|Kingtone Bolwari Marak
|-
|19
|Shyamnagar
|Peterjob Sangma
|Lilian Marak
|John Keats sangma
|Ranicheanik Chenika Marak
|
|
|-
|20
|Raksamgre
|Sengko D. Sangma
|Sengrak Sangma
|Karmingstone Marak
|Lithson Marak
|
|
|-
|21
|Naguapara
|Dormonat Ch Sangma
|
|Rahinath Barchung
|
|
|
|-
|22
|Jengjal
|Grahambell Sangma
|Levastone Sangma
|Miritha Sangma
|Badith Sangma
|
|
|-
|23
|Rongrong
|Sunny Rogers Momin
|Dr. Tweel Marak
|Barning Marak
|
|Sengba Sangma
|
|-
|24
|Bolsong
|Pongseng Marak
|Brigady Marak
|Sengpan Marak
|Asish Marak
|
|
|-
|25
|Damas
|Dolly Sangma
|Timjim Momin
|Bikash Momin
|Pedinand Shira
|
|
|-
|26
|Kharkutta
|Mody Sangma
|George Sangma
|Sengsrang Marak
|
|
|
|-
|27
|Samandagre
|Nihim Shira
|Brilliant Sangma
|Chales T Sangma
|Baseng Marak
|
|
|-
|28
|Darugre
|Henen Sangma
|Walseng Sangma
|
|
|
|-
|29
|Williamnagar
|Sengbath Marak
|Denang Sangma
|
|Alphonush Marak
|Chibasai Lampard Marak
|
|}

== References ==

{{reflist}}

{{Meghalaya elections}}

[[Category:Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election]]
[[Category:2026 elections in India]]

2026 Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election - Revision history

RayfordFvx at 14:11, 11 March 2026