The first elections to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly were held in on 25 February 1978.Kumar, Sudhir. Political and Administrative Setup of Union Territories in India. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 1991. pp. 115-116Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1978 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
There were 30 single-member constituencies at the time of the election, out of whom two were reserved for Scheduled Tribes. There was a total of 86 candidates participating. The maximum number of candidates was found in the Ziro constituency, with six candidates. In two constituencies (Prem Khandu Thungan from Dirang, Kalaktang and Noksong Boham from Niasua-Kanubari) there was only one candidate, who was elected unopposed. There were 29 Janata Party candidates, 21 People's Party of Arunachal candidates, 1 Indian National Congress candidate (Shri Tasso Grayu) and 35 independents in the fray. The speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Nonemati, contested as a Janata Party candidate from Khonsa North constituency.Shiv Lal. Elections Under the Janata Rule. New Delhi: Election Archives, 1978. p. 23 A total of 105 nominations had been presented, out of which 3 had been rejected by the Election Commission (a PPA candidate from Yingdiono-Pangin constituency, an independent from Ziro and an independent from Along North).
A peculiar situation for the tribal societies of the Union Territory was that in many constituencies members of the same families (even brothers) or clans fought against each other for different parties. There were only two female candidates (Nyari Welly and Omem Deori) standing in the election. Neither was elected.
Janata Party won 17 seats, compared to 8 seats for the PPA. Five seats were won by independents. Following the election, a five-member cabinet was sworn in on 14 March 1978, headed by Janata Party leader Prem Khandu Thungan as Chief Minister.Karlo, Rejir. Emerging Pattern of Tribal Leadership in Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Commonwealth Publ, 2005. p. 34 Other ministers were Gegong Apang, Tadar Tang, Soben Tayang and Nokme. The newly elected assembly held its first session in Itanagar on 21 March 1978.Chowdhury, Jyotirindra Nath. Arunachal Pradesh, from Frontier Tracts to Union Territory. New Delhi: Cosmo, 1983. p. 365 Three members were nominated by the Governor to sit in the Assembly, amongst them was one woman (Sibo Kai).Johsi, H. G. Arunachal Pradesh: Past and Present. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 2005. p. 123Karna, M. N. Social Movements in North-East India. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co, 1998. p. 64
Results
Results by constituency +Winner, runner-up, voter turnout, and victory margin in every constituencyAssembly ConstituencyTurnout WinnerRunner UpMargin #k Names% Candidate Party Votes% Candidate Party Votes% 1 Tawang-I 74.50% Karma Wangchu 2,313 65.17% Tashi Lama 1,236 34.83% 1,077 2 Tawang-II 76.92% Tashi Khandu 1,874 53.39% Tsering Tashi 1,636 46.61% 238 3 Dirang–Kalaktang - Prem Khandu Thungon Elected Unopposed 4 Bomdila 75.69% Rinchin Kharu 2,734 73.49% Dorjee Tsering 986 26.51% 1,748 5 Seppa 62.06% Donglo Sonam 4,232 65.28% Nyari Welly 1,649 25.44% 2,583 6 Chayangtajo 64.33% Kameng Dolo 3,396 57.51% Tame Yangfo 2,509 42.49% 887 7 Koloriang 67.31% Chera Talo 2,221 53.96% Lokam Tado 1,895 46.04% 326 8 Nyapin-Palin 59.28% Tadar Tang 3,961 79.86% Tadar Taniang 999 20.14% 2,962 9 Doimukh–Sagalee 80.72% Tara Sinda 2,149 32.61% Khoda Tana 1,520 23.07% 629 10 Ziro–Hapoli 75.61% Padi Yubbe 4,529 44.80% Grati Takka 2,014 19.92% 2,515 11 Riga-Tali 76.93% Nido Techi 3,539 55.00% Boa Tamo 2,896 45.00% 643 12 Daporijo 87.07% Tadak Dulom 4,981 58.87% Tabom Nguba 3,480 41.13% 1,501 13 Daksing-Taliha 72.15% Tara Payeng 1,908 32.58% Pakda Mayeng 1,776 30.32% 132 14 Mechuka 84.80% Tadik Chije 1,903 47.79% Tapik Rinya 1,119 28.10% 784 15 Along North 81.96% Lijum Ronya 3,394 51.13% Talong Taggu 1,868 28.14% 1,526 16 Along South 82.82% Boken Ette 1,972 27.88% Tumpakete 1,504 21.26% 468 17 Basar 89.26% Tomo Riba 4,109 59.93% Tadak Basar 2,747 40.07% 1,362 18 Pasighat 80.90% Sutem Tasung 4,857 59.93% Tarung Pabin 1,906 23.52% 2,951 19 Yingkiong–Pangin 69.52% Geogong Apang 4,435 61.09% Tagang Taki 2,825 38.91% 1,610 20 Meriang-Mebo 74.96% Onyok Rome 3,717 59.94% Kabang Borang 1,587 25.59% 2,130 21 Koloriang 44.49% Tade Tachc 1,048 68.54% Mukut Mithi 330 21.58% 718 22 Roing 74.18% Aken Lego 2,102 60.09% Gora Partin 930 26.59% 1,172 23 Nomsai–Chowkham 81.72% Chow Tewa Mien 4,542 41.99% Chau Khouk Manpoong 3,036 28.07% 1,506 24 Tezu Hayuliang 66.02% Sobeng Tayeng 4,761 71.98% Yiasing Minin 1,853 28.02% 2,908 25 Noadehing–Nampong 76.22% Jungpum Jugli 1,209 34.58% Samchom Ngemu 962 27.52% 247 26 Changlang 76.30% Tengam Ngemu 2,194 50.82% Nongcho 1,643 38.06% 551 27 Khonsa South 75.98% Sijen Kongkang 2,035 36.57% Wangpha Lowang 1,826 32.81% 209 28 Khonsa North 74.52% Nokmey Namati 1,866 36.65% Wanglat Lowangcha 1,401 27.52% 465 29 Niausa–Kanubari - Noksong Boham Elected Unopposed 30 Pongchau-Wakka 30.67% Wnagnam Wangshu 1,344 59.63% Aching 910 40.37% 434
References