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 to be 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 IEDblast in East Garo Hills
district on February 18, 2018.[2][3] The incumbent Indian National Congress government, led by Chief
Minister Mukul Sangma attempted to win a re-election for the third time in a row.
Electoral system[edit]
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]

Date Day
31 Jan 2018 Wednesday
7 Feb 2018 Wednesday
8 Feb 2018 Thursday
12 Feb 2018 Monday
27 Feb 2018 Tuesday
3 Mar 2018 Saturday
5 Mar 2018 Monday
Seats
Symbol Alliance
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
NDA 15
Party (HSPDP)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 8
Garo National Council (GNC) 7
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 6
Khun Hynniewtrep National
7
Awakening Movement (KHNAM)
People's Democratic Front (PDF) NDA 7
Independents (IND) and other
70
candidates