2018 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election

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.[2][3] The incumbent Indian National Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, attempted to win re-election for the third consecutive time.

Meghalaya

2018 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election

27 February 2018
All 60 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly 31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	86.65% [1]
Leader Conrad Sangma Mukul Sangma Party NPP INC Alliance NDA UPA Leader since 6 January 2013 20 April 2010 Leader's seat South Tura(Won) Ampati (Won) Songsak(Won) Last election 2 29 Seats won 20 21 Seat change 18 8 Popular vote 323,500 447,472 Percentage 20.6% 28.5% Swing 11.8% 6.3%
Chief Minister before election Mukul Sangma INC Elected Chief Minister Conrad Sangma NPP

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.[4]

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.[5]

Poll machinery

The tenure of outgoing Legislative Assembly, elected in March 2013, was set to end on 6 March 2018.[6] A total of 370 candidates contested the polls across the 60 constituencies.[7] 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.[8] 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.[8] 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.[9]

Counting will take place in 13 stations to be set up across the state.[10]

Schedule

The Election Commission scheduled the election for 27 February 2018 with the results to be announced on 3 March 2018.[11]

Event	Date	Day
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

Candidates

297 candidates registered to contest the election.

Party		Symbol	Alliance	Seats contested
	Indian National Congress (INC)		UPA	59
	Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)		NDA	47
	National People's Party		NDA	52
	United Democratic Party (UDP)		NDA	27
	Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP)		NDA	15
	Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)			8
	Garo National Council (GNC)			7
	Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)			6
	Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM)			7
	People's Democratic Front (PDF)		NDA	7
	Independents (IND) and other candidates			70

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.[12]

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.[13]

Exit polls

Polling firm	Date published
		NPP	INC	BJP	Others
JanKiBaat-NewsX[14]	27 January 2018	23-27	13-17	8-12	2-6
CVoter[14]	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.[15] Conrad Sangma, leader of the NPP, announced that he would form a government with the support of the UDP, BJP and other regional parties.[16][17] He was sworn in as the Chief Minister, along with eleven other ministers.[18]

Party		Popular vote			Seats
		Votes	%	±pp	Contested	Won	+/−
	Indian National Congress (INC)	4,52,324	28.5%		59	21	8
	National People's Party (NPP)	3,33,401	20.6%		52	20	18
	United Democratic Party (UDP)	183,005	11.6%		27	6	2
	Independents (IND)	176079	10.8%			3	10
	Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)	152,162	9.6%		47	2	2
	People's Democratic Front (PDF)	128,413	8.2%		8	4	4
	Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP)	84,011	5.3%		15	2	1
	Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)	29,287	1.6%		6	1	1
	Garo National Council (GNC)	21,682	1.4%		7	0	1
	Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM)	14,164	0.9%		6	1	1
	All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)	5,544	0.4%			0
	None of the Above (NOTA)	14,915	0.9%
Total		15,96,992	100.00		297	60	±0
Valid votes		15,96,992	99.90
Invalid votes		1,517	0.10
Votes cast / turnout		15,98,509	86.65
Abstentions		2,46,285	13.35
Registered voters		18,44,794

Elected members

The following is the list of the members elected in the Meghalaya assembly:[19]

No.	Constituency	Elected MLA	Party		Runner-up	Party
1	Nartiang	Sniawbhalang Dhar		NPP	Jopthiaw Lyngdoh		INC
2	Jowai	Wailadmiki Shylla		NPP	Moonlight Pariat		UDP
3	Raliang	Comingone Ymbon		NPP	Lakhon Biam		BJP
4	Mowkaiaw	Nujorki Sungoh		UDP	Gilbert Sten		NPP
5	Sutnga Saipung	Shitlang Pale		INC	Hopeful Bamon		NPP
6	Khliehriat	Kyrmen Shylla		UDP	Justine Dkhar		BJP
7	Amlarem	Lahkmen Rymbui		UDP	Stephanson Mukhim		NPP
8	Mawhati	Dasakhiatbha Lamare		NPP	Julias Kitbok Dorphang		IND
9	Nongpoh	Mayralborn Syiem		INC	Rona Khymdeit		UDP
10	Jirang	Sosthenes Sohtun		NPP	Witness Day Sancley		INC
11	Umsning	Jason Sawkmie Mawlong		PDF	Celestine Lyngdoh		INC
12	Umroi	George Bankyntiewlang Lyngdoh		INC	Ngaitlang Dhar		NPP
13	Mawryngkneng	David A Nongrum		INC	Highlander Kharmalki		PDF
14	Pynthorumkhrah	Alexander Laloo Hek		BJP	James Ban Basaiawmoit		PDF
15	Mawlai	Process T. Sawkmie		INC	Teiborlang Pathaw		IND
16	East Shillong	Ampareen Lyngdoh		INC	Neil Antonio War		BJP
17	North Shillong	Adelbert Nongrum		KHNAM	Antonius Lyngdoh		BJP
18	West Shillong	Mohendro Rapsang		INC	Paul Lyngdoh		UDP
19	South Shillong	Sanbor Shullai		BJP	Manas Chaudhuri		INC
20	Mylliem	Hamletson Dohling		PDF	Ronnie Lyngdoh		INC
21	Nongthymmai	Charles Pyngrope		INC	Dr. Jemino Mawthoh		UDP
22	Nongkrem	Lambor Malngiang		IND	Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit		HSPDP
23	Sohiong	Samlin Malngiang		HSPDP	H. Donkupar Lyngdoh		INC
24	Mawphlang	Syntar Klas Sunn		IND	Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem		INC
25	Mawsynram	Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang		INC	Pynshngainlang Syiem		PDF
26	Shella	Donkupar Roy		UDP	Leston Wanswett		PDF
27	Pynursla	Prestone Tynsong		NPP	Nehru Suting		UDP
28	Sohra	Gavin Miguel Mylliem		PDF	Titosstar Well Chyn		UDP
29	Mawkynrew	Banteidor Lyngdoh		PDF	Martle Mukhim		HSPDP
30	Mairang	Metbah Lyngdoh		UDP	Councellor Singh Wahlang		PDF
31	Mawthadraishan	Brolding Nongsiej		UDP	Biolinda Nonglait		HSPDP
32	Nongstoin	Macmillan Byrsat		NPP	Gabriel Wahlang		INC
32	Rambrai-Jyrngam	Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang		INC	K Phlastingwell Pangniang		HSPDP
34	Mawshynrut	Gigur Myrthong		NPP	Witting Mawsor		HSPDP
35	Ranikor	Martin Danggo		INC	Pius Marwein		UDP
36	Mawkyrwat	Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar		HSPDP	Carnes Sohshang		INC
37	Kharkutta	Rupert Momin		NPP	Cherak Watre Momin		INC
38	Mendipathar	Marthon Sangma		INC	Frankenstein Momin		NPP
39	Resubelpara	Timothy Shira		NPP	Salseng Marak		INC
40	Bajengdoba	Pongseng Marak		NPP	Brigady Napak Marak		INC
41	Songsak	Dr. Mukul Sangma		INC	Nihim Shira		NPP
42	Rongjeng	Jim Sangma		NPP	Walseng Sangma		IND
43	Williamnagar	Marcuise N. Marak[20]		NPP	Sengbath R Marak		IND
44	Raksamgre	Benedic Marak		NPP	Limison Sangma		INC
45	Tikrikilla	Jimmy Sangma		INC	Rahinath Barchung		IND
46	Phulbari	S. G. Esmatur Mominin		NPP	Abu Taher Mondal		INC
47	Rajabala	Dr. Azad Zaman		INC	Ashahel Shira		IND
48	Selsella	Clement Marak		INC	Ferlin C. A. Sangma		NPP
49	Dadenggre	James Pangsang Kongkal Sangma		NPP	Rupa M. Marak		IND
50	North Tura	Thomas Sangma		NPP	Noverfield R. Marak		INC
51	South Tura	Agatha Sangma		NPP	Billykid Sangma		BJP
52	Rangsakona	Zenith Sangma		INC	Subir Marak		NPP
53	Ampati	Dr. Mukul Sangma		INC	Bakul Ch. Hajong		BJP
54	Mahendraganj	Dikkanchi Shira		INC	Premananda Koch		BJP
55	Salmanpara	Winnerson Sangma		INC	Ian Botham. Sangma		NPP
56	Gambegre	Saleng Sangma		NCP	Sadhiarani Sangma		INC
57	Dalu	Brening Sangma		NPP	Dorendro Sangma		NCP
58	Rongara Siju	Rakkam Sangma		NPP	Rophul Marak		IND
59	Chokpot	Lazarus Sangma		INC	Secondson Sangma		NPP
60	Baghmara	Samuel Sangma		IND	Sengnal Sangmaa		NPP

See also

• Elections in India
• 2018 elections in India

References

1. "Meghalaya Registers 78% Turnout". The Shillong Times. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
2. "Meghalaya NCP leader Jonathone Sangma killed; 43-year-old was to contest polls from Williamnagar". Firstpost. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
3. "Nagaland, Meghalaya with 60 seats each go to polls today". The Times of India. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
4. "Role of the K.H.A.D.C: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council". khadc.nic.in. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
5. "Can the BJP Achieve a Congress-mukt Meghalaya?". Economic and Political Weekly. 53 (6). 5 June 2015.
6. "Terms of the Houses". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
7. "Total number of candidates reduced to 370". The Shillong Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
8. Das, Manosh (26 December 2017). "Meghalaya will have 60 all-women polling booths for assembly election". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
9. "CEC OP Rawat to visit Meghalaya ahead of elections to review poll-preparedness in state - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
10. "Meghalaya assembly election: 372 candidates in fray - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
11. "Legislative Assembly Elections 2018: Election Commission Announces Poll Dates For Meghalaya, Tripura And Nagaland". Republic TV. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
12. Saikia, Arunabh. "'Phaltu sarkar': In Meghalaya, the ban on coal mining could cost the Congress heavily". Scroll.in. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
13. "CM wants MMDC to carry out coal mining in state". The Shillong Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
14. "Exit polls predict BJP may win Tripura, consolidate position in Meghalaya and Nagaland". Times of India. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
15. "Meghalaya Election Results 2018 LIVE UPDATES: Congress to hold meeting to select legislature party leader". 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
16. "Meghalaya election result 2018: NPP to form government with help of others, says Conrad Sangma". 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
17. Singh, Shiv Sahay (4 March 2018). "Non-Congress parties come together to stake claim in Meghalaya". Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
18. Singh, Shiv Sahay (6 March 2018). "Conrad Sangma sworn in as Meghalaya CM". Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
19. "Meghalaya Election 2018". Elections.in. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
20. "Final Result Sheet - Election to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly from the 43-Williamnagar(ST) Assembly Constituency" (PDF). ceomeghalaya.nic.in. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

External links

• Election Commission of India