The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election was held on 27 February 2018 to elect 59 of 60 members to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, with the results declared on 3 March. The scheduled election in Williamnagar constituency was delayed to an undetermined date following the death of Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on 18 February 2018. The incumbent Indian National Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, attempted to win re-election for the third consecutive time but was defeated by the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance.
Background
Electoral system The state of Meghalaya lies in the North-eastern region of India, predominantly populated by tribal groups. At the time of accession to the Independent India, these tribes were assured autonomy to make laws in and enforce local customs, management of land and forests. The sixth schedule of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of autonomous District Councils to oversee these issues. As such, the powers of the state government are limited when compared with other states of India.
The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly is the legislative organ of the state. The legislature has 60 seats chosen through first-past-the-post method. The party or coalition with more than 30 seats can form the executive.
From 1976, no political party has secured an absolute majority in the state assembly, with Indian National Congress forming coalition governments.
Poll machinery The tenure of outgoing Legislative Assembly, elected in March 2013, was set to end on 6 March 2018. A total of 370 candidates contested the polls across the 60 constituencies. Out of these, only 32 were female candidates, despite the state's distinction of being a matrilineal society.
There were 17.68 lakh voters in the state, out of which 8.93 lakh voters were female. The number of first time voters in the state was 45%.
The election commission set up 3,082 polling booths in the state, out of which 60 booths will be pink booths - one in each constituency run completely by women. There were 172 polling stations in areas adjoining the 884-km-long Assam-Meghalaya border, with polling officials having to pass through Assam to reach several booths. The home department identified 633 polling stations as vulnerable, 315 as critical and 75 as both vulnerable and critical.
Counting will take place in 13 stations to be set up across the state.
Schedule The Election Commission scheduled the election for 27 February 2018 with the results to be announced on 3 March 2018.
EventDateDay Date for nominations 31 Jan 2018 Wednesday Last date for filing nominations 7 Feb 2018 Wednesday Date for scrutiny of nominations 8 Feb 2018 Thursday Last date for withdrawal of candidatures 12 Feb 2018 Monday Date of poll 27 Feb 2018 Tuesday Date of counting 3 Mar 2018 Saturday Date before which the election shall be completed 5 Mar 2018 Monday
Contested Parties 297 candidates registered to contest the election. PartySymbolAllianceSeats contestedIndian National Congress (INC) UPA59Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)NDA47National People's PartyNDA52United Democratic Party (UDP)NDA27Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP)NDA15Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)8Garo National Council (GNC)7Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)6Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM)7People's Democratic Front (PDF) NDA7Independents (IND) and other candidates70
Issues
Coal mining in Jaintia Hills The Jaintia Hills in the eastern part of the state have rich deposits of coal. The National Green Tribunal banned rat-hole mining of coal in the state in 2014. Tribal groups across Meghalaya maintain that according to the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution, they alone have the right to the coal under the hills. But the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973, which vests ownership and control of the mineral with the Indian state, expressly lists Meghalaya's coal mines as being under its purview. Besides, the Sixth Schedule also confers the right over underground minerals to the Indian state. It explicitly mentions the need for "licences or leases for the purpose of prospecting for, or extraction of, minerals". According to the Constitution, there is only one way a Sixth Schedule state can be exempted from the coal nationalisation law – by a presidential notification to that effect. Official records suggest that while the state government did express apprehension in the wake of the nationalisation of coal, it never applied for an exemption.
The state, in general turned a blind eye to the small-scale mining of coal, which had a huge impact on the ecology of the region, leading to the ban. However, numerous miners and workers were affected by the sudden decision and blame the incumbent Congress government for the failure. The Bharatiya Janata Party has promised to resolve the issue in eight months of coming to power, while the Congress government has assigned the mines to Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation to operate the mines on behalf of the miners.
Exit polls Polling firm Date published NPP INC BJP Others JanKiBaat-NewsX 27 January 2018 23-27 13-17 8-12 2-6 CVoter 27 January 2018 17-23 13-19 4-8 13-21
Results The elections resulted in a hung assembly with no single party or alliance getting the requisite majority of 31 seats in the Vidhan Sabha. Conrad Sangma, leader of the NPP, announced that he would form a government with the support of the UDP, BJP and other regional parties. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister, along with eleven other ministers. PartyPopular voteSeatsVotes%±ppContestedWon+/−Indian National Congress (INC)4,52,32428.5%6.359 218National People's Party (NPP)3,33,40120.6%11.8522018United Democratic Party (UDP)183,00511.6%5.527 62Independents (IND)17607910.8%0.8310Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)152,1629.6%8.334722People's Democratic Front (PDF)128,4138.2%did not contest844Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP)84,0115.3%1.1315 21Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)29,2871.6%0.246 11Garo National Council (GNC)21,6821.4%0.69701Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM)14,1640.9%0.176 11All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)5,5440.4%did not contest0None of the Above (NOTA)14,9150.9% Total 15,96,992 100.00 297 60 ±0Valid votes15,96,99299.90Invalid votes1,5170.10Votes cast / turnout15,98,50986.65Abstentions 2,46,28513.35Registered voters 18,44,794
Elected members
The following is the list of the members elected in the Meghalaya assembly:
AC No.ConstituencyWinnerRunner-upMarginCandidate Party VotesCandidate Party Votes West Jaintia Hills District 1 Nartiang (ST) Sniawbhalang DharNPP 16,604 Jopthiaw LyngdohINC14,5062,098 2 Jowai (ST) Wailadmiki ShyllaNPP 10,657 Moonlight PariatUDP9,3541,303 3 Raliang (ST) Comingone YmbonNPP 12,129 Lakhon BiamBJP8,8793,250 4 Mowkaiaw (ST) Nujorki SungohUDP6,691 Gilbert StenNPP6,431260 East Jaintia Hills District 5 Sutnga Saipung (ST) Shitlang PaleINC12,257 Hopeful BamonNPP10,6731,584 6 Khliehriat (ST) Kyrmen ShyllaUDP20,285 Justine DkharBJP12,1048,181 West Jaintia Hills District 7 Amlarem (ST) Lahkmen RymbuiUDP14,766 Stephanson MukhimNPP12,1352,631 Ri-Bhoi District 8 Mawhati (ST) Dasakhiatbha LamareNPP6,365 Julias Kitbok DorphangIndependent6,161204 9 Nongpoh (ST) Mayralborn SyiemINC11,119 Rona KhymdeitUDP7,7953,324 10 Jirang (ST) Sosthenes SohtunNPP 9,437 Witness Day SancleyINC9,217220 11 Umsning (ST) Jason Sawkmie MawlongPDF9,238 Celestine LyngdohINC9,16870 12 Umroi (ST) George Bankyntiewlang LyngdohINC10,405 Ngaitlang DharNPP9,3871,018 East Khasi Hills District 13 Mawryngkneng (ST) David A NongrumINC10,336 Highlander KharmalkiPDF6,5733,763 14 Pynthorumkhrah Alexander Laloo HekBJP10,166 James Ban BasaiawmoitPDF8,7481,418 15 Mawlai (ST) Process T. SawkmieINC9,253 Teiborlang PathawIndependent7,6791,574 16 East Shillong (ST) Ampareen LyngdohINC10,368 Neil Antonio WarBJP4,2946,074 17 North Shillong (ST) Adelbert NongrumKHNAM5,572 Antonius LyngdohBJP5,166406 18 West Shillong Mohendro RapsangINC10,288 Paul LyngdohUDP8,3041,984 19 South Shillong Sanbor ShullaiBJP11,204 Manas ChaudhuriINC6,1075,097 20 Mylliem (ST) Hamletson DohlingPDF8,493 Ronnie LyngdohINC8,028465 21 Nongthymmai (ST) Charles PyngropeINC10,225 Dr. Jemino MawthohUDP9,268957 22 Nongkrem (ST) Lambor MalngiangIndependent8,274 Ardent Miller BasaiawmoitHSPDP8,19876 23 Sohiong (ST) Samlin MalngiangHSPDP 11,960 H. Donkupar LyngdohINC11,338622 24 Mawphlang (ST) Syntar Klas SunnIndependent11,162 Kennedy Cornelius KhyriemINC10,444718 25 Mawsynram (ST) Himalaya Muktan ShangpliangINC8,984 Pynshngainlang SyiemPDF8,190794 26 Shella (ST) Donkupar RoyUDP8,280 Leston WanswettPDF7,910370 27 Pynursla (ST) Prestone TynsongNPP 12,807 Nehru SutingUDP10,2332,574 28 Sohra (ST) Gavin Miguel MylliemPDF8,625 Titosstar Well ChynUDP6,6012,024 29 Mawkynrew (ST) Banteidor LyngdohPDF8,519 Martle MukhimHSPDP8,010509 West Khasi Hills District 30 Mairang (ST) Metbah LyngdohUDP10,710 Councellor Singh WahlangPDF7,7962,914 31 Mawthadraishan (ST) Brolding NongsiejUDP13,520 Biolinda NonglaitHSPDP11,6911,829 32 Nongstoin (ST) Macmillan ByrsatNPP9,284 Gabriel WahlangINC9,22460 33 Rambrai-Jyrngam (ST) Kimfa Sidney MarbaniangINC12,135 K Phlastingwell PangniangHSPDP8,3323,803 34 Mawshynrut (ST) Gigur MyrthongNPP9,540 Witting MawsorHSPDP6,1163,424 South West Khasi Hills District 35 Ranikor (ST) Martin DanggoINC10,952 Pius MarweinUDP8,9502,002 36 Mawkyrwat (ST) Renikton Lyngdoh TongkharHSPDP 6,777 Carnes SohshangINC6,319458 North Garo Hills District 37 Kharkutta (ST) Rupert MominNPP14,654 Cherak Watre MominINC13,845809 38 Mendipathar (ST) Marthon SangmaINC9,347 Frankenstein MominNPP6,6702,677 39 Resubelpara (ST) Timothy ShiraNPP6,720 Salseng MarakINC4,9571,763 40 Bajengdoba (ST) Pongseng MarakNPP11,648 Brigady Napak MarakINC9,6841,964 East Garo Hills District 41 Songsak (ST) Dr. Mukul SangmaINC10,274 Nihim ShiraNPP8,4441,830 42 Rongjeng (ST) Jim SangmaNPP4,846 Walseng SangmaIndependent4,296550 43 Williamnagar (ST) Marcuise N. MarakNPP9,656 Sengbath R MarakIndependent4,7364,920 West Garo Hills District 44 Raksamgre (ST) Benedic MarakNPP9,104 Limison SangmaINC8,480624 45 Tikrikilla (ST) Jimmy SangmaINC7,167 Rahinath BarchungIndependent5,7601,407 46 Phulbari S. G. Esmatur MomininNPP7,716 Abu Taher MondalINC6,5821,134 47 Rajabala Dr. Azad ZamanINC7,420 Ashahel ShiraIndependent6,482938 48 Selsella (ST) Clement MarakINC12,619 Ferlin C. A. SangmaNPP9,0223,597 49 Dadenggre (ST) James Pangsang Kongkal SangmaNPP7,239 Rupa M. MarakIndependent4,4542,785 50 North Tura (ST) Thomas SangmaNPP6,487 Noverfield R. MarakINC4,3912,096 51 South Tura (ST) Agatha SangmaNPP6,499 Billykid SangmaBJP4,8961,603 52 Rangsakona (ST) Zenith SangmaINC13,981 Subir MarakNPP12,0191,962 South West Garo Hills District 53 Ampati (ST) Dr. Mukul SangmaINC16,721 Bakul Ch. HajongBJP8,6178,104 54 Mahendraganj (ST) Dikkanchi ShiraINC14,292 Premananda KochBJP6,2078,085 55 Salmanpara (ST) Winnerson SangmaINC6,613 Ian Botham. SangmaNPP4,6981,915 West Garo Hills District 56 Gambegre (ST) Saleng SangmaNCP 7,291 Sadhiarani SangmaINC7,155136 57 Dalu (ST) Brening SangmaNPP4,092 Dorendro SangmaINC3,308784 South Garo Hills District 58 Rongara Siju (ST) Rakkam SangmaNPP8,108 Rophul MarakIndependent7,0001,108 59 Chokpot (ST) Lazarus SangmaINC8,410 Secondson SangmaNPP6,3592,051 60 Baghmara (ST) Samuel SangmaIndependent8,070 Sengnal SangmaaNPP5,8282,242
Bypolls (2018-2023) S.noDateConstituencyMLA before electionParty before electionElected MLAParty after election5123 August 2018South TuraAgatha Sangma Conrad Sangma 35RanikorMartin Danggo Piyus Marwein 4811 April 2019SelsellaClement MarakFerlin C. A. Sangma 2621 October 2019ShellaDonkupar RoyBalajied Kupar Synrem24 30 October 2021MawphlangSyntar Klas SunnEugeneson Lyngdoh13MawryngknengDavid Nongrum Pyniaid Sing Syiem47RajabalaAzad ZamanMD. Abdus Saleh
See also Elections in India 2018 elections in India
References
External links