SHILLONG: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisation (CoMSO) has intensified its campaign against alleged illegal infiltration and discrepancies in electoral rolls, calling for urgent corrective measures, including the implementation of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
Following a high-level meeting, CoMSO leader Roykupar Synrem urged both the State and Union governments to take immediate steps to review electoral rolls and address concerns related to identity verification and voter authenticity.
Synrem alleged that illegal infiltration and the inclusion of ineligible voters pose a serious threat to the political rights of indigenous communities in Meghalaya. He called for a comprehensive SIR exercise to ensure the integrity of electoral rolls, citing similar exercises undertaken in other states.
Raising concerns over border areas, CoMSO pointed to the plains belt of Garo Hills as particularly vulnerable, alleging instances of cross-border movement and irregularities. The organisation also flagged claims of “dual voting” in border regions, where individuals are allegedly enrolled in electoral rolls across state boundaries.
Warning of long-term demographic implications, Synrem stressed the need to safeguard the political and constitutional rights of indigenous communities, stating that unchecked trends could impact their representation in the future.
A key demand raised by CoMSO is the review and amendment of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950. The organisation argued that the existing list requires reassessment to reflect the current socio-political realities of Meghalaya.
According to CoMSO, the present ST list includes multiple communities, and there is a need to examine whether existing provisions ensure equitable protections for indigenous tribes such as the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities, particularly in comparison to safeguards in other states.
The organisation also expressed concern over land ownership patterns, alleging delays in action by a government committee constituted in December 2024 to examine related issues.
Outlining its future course of action, CoMSO announced a two-pronged strategy involving political engagement and grassroots mobilisation. The group plans to hold consultations with political parties while simultaneously launching awareness campaigns in collaboration with traditional institutions, including Nokma councils and local shnong bodies across Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills.
Synrem stated that a timeline would be set for the government to act on their demands, warning that failure to respond could lead to wider mobilisation across the state.
“The integrity of the electoral roll is fundamental to democracy. We are urging authorities to ensure that only eligible citizens are included, in accordance with the law,” he said.
