The 1978 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election was held on 25 February 1978.[1] No party secured a majority of seats in the election. Following negotiations, a coalition government, known as the Meghalaya United Legislative Party, was formed between the All Party Hill Leaders Conference, the Hill State People's Democratic Party and the Public Demands Implementation Convention (PDIC).[1] Due to an inability to reach agreement between the coalition parties, the position of Chief Minister was chosen by drawing lots; subsequently, on 10 March 1978, Darwin Diengdoh Pugh was sworn in as the state's second Chief Minister.[2] Miriam D Shira from Garo Hills was the only woman elected to the legislature.[3]
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All 60 seats in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly 31 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Turnout | 67.18% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parties and coalitions | Popular vote | Seats | |||||||
| Votes | % | ±pp | Won | +/− | |||||
| Indian National Congress (INC) | 109,654 | 28.96 | 19.07 
|
20 | 11
| ||||
| All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) | 94,362 | 24.92 | 10.75 
|
16 | 16
| ||||
| Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) | 72,852 | 19.24 | 14[a] | ||||||
| Indian National Congress (I) | 5,447 | 1.44 | 0 | ||||||
| Communist Party of India | 2,361 | 0.62 | 0.05
|
0 | 
| ||||
| Independents (IND) | 93,970 | 24.82 | 29.04
|
10[b] | 9
| ||||
| Total | 378,646 | 100.00 | 60 | ±0 | |||||
| Source: Election Commission of India[4] | |||||||||
a The HSPDP won 8 seats in the 1972 election, but the party's representatives were recorded as independents at the time of that election.[1]
b Two candidates from the PDIC were elected, but the party had not obtained registration in time for the election; the party's representatives were recorded as independents in the official results.[5]
Elected Members
edit| Constituency | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) |
Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| War-jaintia | ST | Johndeng Pohrmen | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Rymbai | ST | Obil Kyndait | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Sutnga-shangpung | ST | Barrister Pakem | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Raliang | ST | Humphrey Hadem | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Nartiang | ST | H.britainwar Dan | Independent | |
| Nongbah-wahiajer | ST | Albin Lamare | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Jowai | ST | Tylli Kyndiah | Independent | |
| Mawhati | ST | Martin N. Majaw | Independent | |
| Umroi | ST | Evansius Kek Mawlong | Independent | |
| Nongpoh | ST | D. Dethwelson Lapang | Indian National Congress | |
| Jirang | ST | Snomick Kalwing | Indian National Congress | |
| Mairang | ST | Fuller Lyngdoh Mawnai | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Nongspung | ST | Winstone Syiemiong | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Sohiong | ST | Medras Mylliem | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Mylliem | ST | Lambourine Kharlukhi | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Malki-nongthymmai | ST | Upstar Kharbuli | Indian National Congress | |
| Laitumkharah | ST | Peter Garnette Marbaniang | Indian National Congress | |
| Pynthorumkhrah | None | B. K. Roy | Indian National Congress | |
| Jaiaw | ST | P. Ripple Kyndiah | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Mawkhar | ST | D. D. Pugh | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Mawprem | None | Dhrubanath Joshi | Indian National Congress | |
| Laban | None | Bhaskar Choudhury | Indian National Congress | |
| Mawlai | ST | Stanlington D. Khongwir | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Sohryngkham | ST | Grosswell Mylliemngap | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Dienglieng | ST | Jungai Khongjoh | Indian National Congress | |
| Nongkrem | ST | Dominic Roblin Nongkhynrih | Independent | |
| Lyngkyrdem | ST | Brington Buhai Lyngdoh | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Nongshken | ST | Maham Singh | Indian National Congress | |
| Sohra | ST | Phaindrojen Swer | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Shella | ST | Stanley D.d.nichols Roy | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Mawsynram | ST | Karadoklie E. Tariang | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Mawkyrwat | ST | Rowell Lyngdoh | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Pariong | ST | Tubarlin Lyngdoh | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Nongstoin | ST | Endro Lawphniaw | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Langrin | ST | Bakstarwell Wanniang | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Mawthengkut | ST | Ledishon Nongsiang | Hill State People's Democratic Party | |
| Baghmara | ST | Williamson A. Sangma | Indian National Congress | |
| Rongrenggiri | ST | Albinstone M. Sangma | Indian National Congress | |
| Rongjeng | ST | Pleander G. Momin | Indian National Congress | |
| Kharkutta | ST | Prithington Sangma | Indian National Congress | |
| Mendipathar | ST | Beninstand G. Momin | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Resubelpara | ST | Salseng Marak | Indian National Congress | |
| Songsak | ST | Miriam D.shira | Independent | |
| Bajengdoba | ST | Grohonsing Marak | Indian National Congress | |
| Tikrikilla | ST | Jagendranath Bantha | Independent | |
| Dadenggiri | ST | Bronson Momin | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Rongchugiri | ST | M. Reidson Momin | Indian National Congress | |
| Phulbari | None | Akramozzaman | Indian National Congress | |
| Rajabala | ST | Mozibur Rahman | Independent | |
| Selsella | ST | Girash Marak | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Rongram | ST | Crunden S. Sangma | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Tura | ST | Singjan Sangma | Indian National Congress | |
| Chokpot | ST | Jackman Marak | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Kherapara | ST | Alfrien Marak | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Dalu | ST | Mukul Das | Independent | |
| Dalamgiri | ST | Armison Marak | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Rangsakona | ST | Jendew Ch. Marak | All Party Hill Leaders Conference | |
| Ampatigiri | ST | Bhadreswar Koch | Indian National Congress | |
| Salmanpura | ST | Meckenson K.sangma | Independent | |
| Mahendraganj | None | Manik Ch. Das | Indian National Congress | |
References
edit- ^ a b c Warjri, Antarwell (March 2017). "Role of Regional Political Parties and Formation of the Coalition Governments in Meghalaya" (PDF). International Journal of Humanities & Social Science Studies. 3 (5): 206–218. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-06. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ^ Staff (2008-11-18). "Former Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Pugh dies". Oneindia.com. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ^ Joshi, Hargovind (2004). Meghalaya: Past and Present. Mittal Publications. p. 292. ISBN 978-81-7099-980-5.
- ^ "Meghalaya 1978". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- ^ Gupta, Susmita Sen (2005). Regionalism in Meghalaya. South Asian Publishers. p. 118. ISBN 978-81-7003-288-5.