Shillong (Meghalaya), May 06: An all-party meeting was convened at Tara Ghar on Tuesday to discuss the expert committee’s report on the State Reservation Policy, with major political parties agreeing to constitute a multi-party panel for a time-bound review. Regional outfit Voice of the People Party did not participate in the crucial meeting.
The closed-door session was chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and attended by representatives of the NPP, UDP, BJP, PDF, HSPDP, TMC and Congress. The sole agenda was the Reservation Report submitted last month by the expert committee headed by Justice (retd) Mool Chand Garg. Sources said the Chief Minister briefed leaders on key findings, including issues of roster implementation and the existing 40% reservation each for Khasi-Jaintia and Garo categories fixed in 1972. The report, which has not been made public, is understood to recommend a data-driven review of anomalies without disturbing current percentages.
The meeting decided that each party will nominate one member to an All-Party Coordination Committee on Reservation Policy. The panel will examine the report, seek legal opinion and hold district-level consultations before submitting its recommendations to the government by July 6. Opposition leaders demanded that the report be tabled in the Assembly for transparency. UDP and HSPDP leaders stressed the need to safeguard job opportunities for Khasi-Jaintia youth, while BJP representatives called for balancing merit with social justice.
All parties agreed that the existing reservation structure and roster will continue until the committee submits its report and that no fresh policy changes will be notified in the interim. Chief Minister Sangma told the meeting that the government will not take any unilateral decision on reservation and said the politics around the issue must be handled together.
The VPP, which has led public agitations demanding a population-based review, stayed away from the meeting. The Coordination Committee will be notified this week. The Tara Ghar consensus is aimed at averting unrest ahead of the Shillong Lok Sabha by poll and the 2027 district council elections.
