Shillong, May 6: An all-party meeting convened by the Meghalaya government on Wednesday to discuss the report of the Expert Committee on the State Reservation Policy ended with “no major disagreement” from the political parties that attended, officials said.
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| Representatives of various political parties attend the all-party meeting on Meghalaya’s State Reservation Policy report chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at the State Guest House in Shillong on Wednesday. |
The meeting, held at the State Guest House in Shillong and chaired by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, focused on the findings and recommendations of the Expert Committee on the State Reservation Policy. Representatives from major political parties, including the National People’s Party (NPP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), and the Indian National Congress attended the meeting.
However, the Voice of the People Party (VPP), which has been actively demanding a review of the reservation policy, chose not to participate in the discussion.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department, Cyril V.D. Diengdoh, said the meeting was held following an assurance made by the Chief Minister in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly after the report was tabled on February 18, 2026.
According to Diengdoh, the expert committee’s report comprises 21 volumes and nearly 4,000 pages. During the one-hour presentation, officials briefed political parties on the main findings, legal aspects, and constitutional issues related to the reservation policy.
“The majority of the political parties looked at the presentation and there was no major disagreement with what the committee has found in the report,” Diengdoh told reporters after the meeting. He added that parties appreciated the government for initiating consultations on the issue.
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Diengdoh said copies of the report would be shared with all political parties as directed by the Chief Minister, and parties may submit further suggestions after studying the document in detail. He also indicated that another all-party meeting may not be necessary unless additional consultations are required.
The VPP, led by president Ardent M. Basaiawmoit, informed the government in writing that it would not be able to attend the meeting. Explaining the decision, Basaiawmoit said the party was currently occupied with several important public issues requiring the government’s immediate attention.
The VPP has been vocal in seeking changes to the State Reservation Policy and had earlier demanded a seven per cent increase in reservation for the Khasi community while retaining the existing quota for the Garo community. The party had also expressed dissatisfaction with the recommendations of the Expert Committee and sought wider public consultations before any final decision is taken.
The Expert Committee had recommended maintaining the existing State Reservation Policy of 1972, noting concerns that any alteration could face legal scrutiny in court.
