Shillong, March 16 The chief executive member of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Albinush R Marak, resigned from his post on Monday after a motion of no-confidence was moved against him by 21 out of the 30 members of the district council (MDCs).
The development came days after violence erupted in parts of the Garo Hills region over a controversial notification regarding Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates. Clashes between tribal and non-tribal groups resulted in the deaths of two people.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the council, Marak stated that he was stepping down with dignity, and that his resignation would take immediate effect. He added that he would no longer continue as the CEM, as a majority of the MDCs no longer had confidence in his leadership.
Marak, the elected head of the council, resigned before the motion was moved in the House.
He said that the Executive Committee under his leadership had followed the rules and procedures to protect the interests, rights, and traditions of the people of Garo Hills, although certain developments had sometimes hindered the implementation of some initiatives.
"In democratic institutions, the confidence of the majority is essential for the smooth functioning of the Executive Committee," he said.
The Council had issued a notification requiring candidates to produce Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates to contest the GHADC elections, effectively barring non-tribals from participating, although they had been contesting elections for decades.
Clashes, arson, and unrest followed, and two people were killed during the violence in the Chibinang area, prompting a curfew and the deployment of security forces.
The high court later struck down the notification, while the state government postponed the GHADC elections due to the violence.