2018 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election

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2018 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election
← 2013 27 February 2018 Next →
All 60 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
31 seats needed for a majority
Turnout86.65% [1] (Decrease1.32)
  First party Second party Third party
 
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr. Mukul Sangma at the Elephant Falls, in Meghalaya on May 28, 2016.jpg
The_Chief_Minister_of_Meghalaya,_Shri_Conrad_Sangma.JPG
 Indian Election Symbol Drums.png
Leader Mukul Sangma Conrad Sangma Donkupar Roy
Party INC NPP UDP
Alliance UPA NDA NDA
Leader since 20 April 2010 6 January 2013 8 December 2001
Leader's seat Songsak[a] South Tura[b] Shella
Last election 29 2 8
Seats won 21 20 6
Seat change Decrease8 Increase18 Decrease2
Popular vote 447,472 323,500 183,005
Percentage 28.5% 20.6% 11.6%
Swing Decrease6.3% Increase11.8% Decrease5.5%
2018 Meghalaya assembly elections results.png
Chief Minister before election

Mukul Sangma
INC

Elected Chief Minister

Conrad Sangma
NPP

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

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.[citation needed]

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) Election Symbol Hand.png UPA 59
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Election Symbol Lotus.png NDA 47
National People's Party Indian Election Symbol Book.svg NDA 52
United Democratic Party (UDP) Indian Election Symbol Drums.png NDA 27
Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) Indian Election Symbol Lion.png NDA 15
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) AAP Symbol.png 8
Garo National Council (GNC) 7
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Nationalist Congress Party Election Symbol.png 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.[11]

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.[12]

Exit polls[]

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

Party Popular vote Seats
Votes % ±pp Contested Won +/−
Indian National Congress (INC) 4,52,324 28.5% Decrease6.3 59 21 Decrease8
National People's Party (NPP) 3,33,401 20.6% Increase11.8 52 20 Increase18
United Democratic Party (UDP) 183,005 11.6% Decrease5.5 27 6 Decrease2
Independents (IND) 176079 10.8% Increase0.8 3 Decrease10
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 152,162 9.6% Increase8.33 47 2 Increase2
People's Democratic Front (PDF) 128,413 8.2% did not contest 8 4 Increase4
Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) 84,011 5.3% Increase1.13 15 2 Increase1
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 29,287 1.6% Decrease0.24 6 1 Decrease1
Garo National Council (GNC) 21,682 1.4% Increase0.69 7 0 Decrease1
Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) 14,164 0.9% Increase0.17 6 1 Increase1
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) 5,544 0.4% did not contest 0 Steady
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:[18]

AC No. Constituency Winner Runner-up Margin
Candidate Party Votes Candidate Party Votes
1 Nartiang (ST) Sniawbhalang Dhar NPP 16,604 INC 14,506 2,098
2 Jowai (ST) NPP 10,657 UDP 9,354 1,303
3 Raliang (ST) Comingone Ymbon NPP 12,129 BJP 8,879 3,250
4 Mowkaiaw (ST) Nujorki Sungoh UDP 6,691 NPP 6,431 260
5 Sutnga Saipung (ST) Shitlang Pale INC 12,257 NPP 10,673 1,584
6 Khliehriat (ST) Kyrmen Shylla UDP 20,285 Justine Dkhar BJP 12,104 8,181
7 Amlarem (ST) Lahkmen Rymbui UDP 14,766 NPP 12,135 2,631
8 Mawhati (ST) NPP 6,365 Independent 6,161 204
9 Nongpoh (ST) INC 11,119 UDP 7,795 3,324
10 Jirang (ST) NPP 9,437 INC 9,217 220
11 Umsning (ST) PDF 9,238 INC 9,168 70
12 Umroi (ST) INC 10,405 Ngaitlang Dhar NPP 9,387 1,018
13 Mawryngkneng (ST) INC 10,336 PDF 6,573 3,763
14 Pynthorumkhrah Alexander Laloo Hek BJP 10,166 PDF 8,748 1,418
15 Mawlai (ST) INC 9,253 Independent 7,679 1,574
16 East Shillong (ST) Ampareen Lyngdoh INC 10,368 BJP 4,294 6,074
17 North Shillong (ST) Adelbert Nongrum KHNAM 5,572 BJP 5,166 406
18 West Shillong INC 10,288 Paul Lyngdoh UDP 8,304 1,984
19 South Shillong Sanbor Shullai BJP 11,204 Manas Chaudhuri INC 6,107 5,097
20 Mylliem (ST) Hamletson Dohling PDF 8,493 INC 8,028 465
21 Nongthymmai (ST) Charles Pyngrope INC 10,225 Dr. UDP 9,268 957
22 Nongkrem (ST) Independent 8,274 HSPDP 8,198 76
23 Sohiong (ST) Samlin Malngiang HSPDP 11,960 INC 11,338 622
24 Mawphlang (ST) Syntar Klas Sunn Independent 11,162 INC 10,444 718
25 Mawsynram (ST) INC 8,984 PDF 8,190 794
26 Shella (ST) Donkupar Roy UDP 8,280 PDF 7,910 370
27 Pynursla (ST) Prestone Tynsong NPP 12,807 UDP 10,233 2,574
28 Sohra (ST) PDF 8,625 UDP 6,601 2,024
29 Mawkynrew (ST) Banteidor Lyngdoh PDF 8,519 Martle Mukhim HSPDP 8,010 509
30 Mairang (ST) Metbah Lyngdoh UDP 10,710 PDF 7,796 2,914
31 Mawthadraishan (ST) UDP 13,520 HSPDP 11,691 1,829
32 Nongstoin (ST) NPP 9,284 INC 9,224 60
32 Rambrai-Jyrngam (ST) INC 12,135 HSPDP 8,332 3,803
34 Mawshynrut (ST) NPP 9,540 HSPDP 6,116 3,424
35 Ranikor (ST) Martin Danggo INC 10,952 UDP 8,950 2,002
36 Mawkyrwat (ST) HSPDP 6,777 INC 6,319 458
37 Kharkutta (ST) NPP 14,654 INC 13,845 809
38 Mendipathar (ST) Marthon Sangma INC 9,347 NPP 6,670 2,677
39 Resubelpara (ST) Timothy Shira NPP 6,720 INC 4,957 1,763
40 Bajengdoba (ST) NPP 11,648 INC 9,684 1,964
41 Songsak (ST) Dr. Mukul Sangma INC 10,274 Nihim Shira NPP 8,444 1,830
42 Rongjeng (ST) NPP 4,846 Independent 4,296 550
43 Williamnagar (ST) [19] NPP 9,656 Independent 4,736 4,920
44 Raksamgre (ST) NPP 9,104 INC 8,480 624
45 Tikrikilla (ST) INC 7,167 Independent 5,760 1,407
46 Phulbari NPP 7,716 INC 6,582 1,134
47 Rajabala Dr. Azad Zaman INC 7,420 Independent 6,482 938
48 Selsella (ST) INC 12,619 Ferlin C. A. Sangma NPP 9,022 3,597
49 Dadenggre (ST) NPP 7,239 Independent 4,454 2,785
50 North Tura (ST) NPP 6,487 INC 4,391 2,096
51 South Tura (ST) Agatha Sangma NPP 6,499 BJP 4,896 1,603
52 Rangsakona (ST) INC 13,981 NPP 12,019 1,962
53 Ampati (ST) Dr. Mukul Sangma INC 16,721 BJP 8,617 8,104
54 Mahendraganj (ST) INC 14,292 BJP 6,207 8,085
55 Salmanpara (ST) INC 6,613 NPP 4,698 1,915
56 Gambegre (ST) NCP 7,291 INC 7,155 136
57 Dalu (ST) Brening Sangma NPP 4,092 INC 3,308 784
58 Rongara Siju (ST) NPP 8,108 Independent 7,000 1,108
59 Chokpot (ST) INC 8,410 NPP 6,359 2,051
60 Baghmara (ST) Independent 8,070 NPP 5,828 2,242

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sangma was also elected in Ampati; he chose to represent Songsak.
  2. ^ Elected in by-election shortly after election
  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. ^ a b 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. ^ Saikia, Arunabh. "'Phaltu sarkar': In Meghalaya, the ban on coal mining could cost the Congress heavily". Scroll.in. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  12. ^ "CM wants MMDC to carry out coal mining in state". The Shillong Times. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  13. ^ a b "Exit polls predict BJP may win Tripura, consolidate position in Meghalaya and Nagaland". Times of India. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Meghalaya Election Results 2018 LIVE UPDATES: Congress to hold meeting to select legislature party leader". 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Meghalaya election result 2018: NPP to form government with help of others, says Conrad Sangma". 3 March 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  16. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (4 March 2018). "Non-Congress parties come together to stake claim in Meghalaya". Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
  17. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (6 March 2018). "Conrad Sangma sworn in as Meghalaya CM". Retrieved 7 June 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
  18. ^ "Meghalaya Election 2018". Elections.in. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  19. ^ "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[]

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