1978 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

The first elections to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly were held in on 25 February 1978.[1][2]

1978 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

25 February 1978 1980 →

All 30 seats in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
16 seats needed for a majority
Registered224,839
Turnout73.20%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Prem Khandu Thungan
Party JP PPA
Seats won 17 8
Seat change New New

Elected Chief Minister

Prem Khandu Thungan
JP

There were 30 single-member constituencies at the time of the election, out of whom two were reserved for Scheduled Tribes.[2] 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.[2] The speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Nonemati, contested as a Janata Party candidate from Khonsa North constituency.[3] 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).[3]

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.[3] There were only two female candidates (Nyari Welly and Omem Deori) standing in the election. Neither was elected.[2]

Janata Party won 17 seats, compared to 8 seats for the PPA. Five seats were won by independents.[2] 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.[1][4] Other ministers were Gegong Apang, Tadar Tang, Soben Tayang and Nokme.[1] The newly elected assembly held its first session in Itanagar on 21 March 1978.[5] Three members were nominated by the Governor to sit in the Assembly, amongst them was one woman (Sibo Kai).[6][7]

Results

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PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Janata Party66,90642.0817New
People's Party of Arunachal48,07530.248New
Indian National Congress7200.450New
Independents43,28727.235New
Total158,988100.0030New
Valid votes158,98896.60
Invalid/blank votes5,5993.40
Total votes164,587100.00
Registered voters/turnout224,83973.20
Source: ECI[2]

Elected Members

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Constituency Reserved for
(SC/ST/None)
Member Party
Tawang-i None Karma Wangchu Independent
Tawang - Ii None Tashi Khandu Independent
Dirang Kalaktang None Prem Khandu Thungon (uncontested) Janata Party
Bomdila None Rinchin Kharu Janata Party
Seppa None Donglo Sonam Janata Party
Chayangtajo None Kameng Dolo Janata Party
Koloriang None Chera Talo Janata Party
Nyapin Palin None Tadar Tang Janata Party
Doimukh Sagalee None Tara Sinda Janata Party
Ziro None Padi Yubbe Janata Party
Raga-tali None Nido Techi Janata Party
Daporijo None Tadak Dulom Janata Party
Toksing Taliha None Tara Payeng People's Party of Arunachal
Mechuka None Tadik Chije Independent
Along North None Lium Ronya People's Party of Arunachal
Along South None Boken Ette Independent
Basar None Tomo Riba People's Party of Arunachal
Palin ST Sutem Tasung People's Party of Arunachal
Yingkiong Pangin None Gegong Apang Janata Party
Mariyang Mebo None Onyok Rome People's Party of Arunachal
Koloriang ST Tade Tachc Independent
Roing None Aken Lego People's Party of Arunachal
Nomsai Chowkham None Chow Tewa Mien Janata Party
Tezu Hayuliang None Sobeng Tayeng Janata Party
Noadehing Nampong None Jungpum Jugli People's Party of Arunachal
Changlang None Tengam Janata Party
Khonsa South None Sijen Kongkang People's Party of Arunachal
Khonsa North None Nokmey Namati Janata Party
Niausa Kanubari None Noksong Boham (uncontested) Janata Party
Pongchau Wakka None Wangnam Wangshu Janata Party

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kumar, Sudhir. Political and Administrative Setup of Union Territories in India. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 1991. pp. 115-116
  2. ^ a b c d e f Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1978 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH Archived 27 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c Shiv Lal. Elections Under the Janata Rule. New Delhi: Election Archives, 1978. p. 23
  4. ^ Karlo, Rejir. Emerging Pattern of Tribal Leadership in Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Commonwealth Publ, 2005. p. 34
  5. ^ Chowdhury, Jyotirindra Nath. Arunachal Pradesh, from Frontier Tracts to Union Territory. New Delhi: Cosmo, 1983. p. 365
  6. ^ Johsi, H. G. Arunachal Pradesh: Past and Present. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 2005. p. 123
  7. ^ Karna, M. N. Social Movements in North-East India. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co, 1998. p. 64