Talks between Meghalaya and Assam to resolve the remaining interstate border disputes will resume only after the completion of the Assam elections, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said on January 16, citing the neighbouring state’s political engagements.
Sangma said the second phase of negotiations—covering six unresolved border areas—has been delayed as the Assam government is currently preoccupied with election-related activities. “Elections are around the corner, so politically speaking, the current dispensation there is not in a position to engage right now,” he told reporters, adding that discussions would restart once the polls conclude.
Meghalaya and Assam had signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2022 to resolve six of the 12 disputed border areas, a move seen as a major breakthrough in the decades-old dispute.
On border security, the chief minister said the state government is intensifying efforts to complete fencing along the nearly 440-km international border with Bangladesh. About 40 km of the border remains unfenced, and work is being expedited in coordination with the Centre to close the gaps.
He noted that population-related issues, land acquisition challenges and pending court cases have delayed progress in certain stretches, particularly in West Jaintia Hills district.
Sangma said security agencies remain on high alert along the international border. A review meeting involving the state government, the Border Security Force and the Intelligence Bureau was held on December 24, 2025, to assess the security situation and identify vulnerabilities.
On illegal immigration, Sangma said the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government will hold consultations with political parties and civil society organisations on its proposal for an ILP-like provision under the proposed Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. He stressed that the focus should be on effective legal mechanisms rather than the terminology of the law.
“The issue is not ILP, the issue is not the Immigration Act or MRSSA. We need laws and mechanisms to check illegal immigration,” he said, urging opposition parties to participate constructively in the discussions. He added that the government is open to making changes based on feedback received during consultations.
Responding to opposition leader Mukul Sangma’s claim that the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act has not been implemented, the chief minister said the law is being enforced in several localities, though challenges remain due to infrastructure gaps and the need for further investment.
