Meghalaya Elections 2023: On February 27, 2023, the citizens of Meghalaya will vote to elect the new Legislative Assembly of 60 members. The results of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections will come out on March 2, 2023.

Meghalaya Assembly Elections 2023: Check schedule, poll result date, full list of candidates & constituencies

<p>Election authorities in poll-bound Meghalaya seized over Rs 38 lakh in cash from East Khasi Hills district today, just a day of the polling for the state assembly.</p>

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The seizure was made from the Lad Smit area and follows the seizure of Rs 12 lakh in Ri-Bhoi district on Sunday.</p>

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The static surveillance team has seized Rs 38.67 lakh from one person under Madanrting police station limits today,? chief electoral officer F R Kharkongor told PTI.</p>

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The seizure was made from a coal trader and a resident of West Jaintia Hills district who was travelling on a brand new SUV.</p>

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The cash was handed over to concerned authorities and investigation is on to find out the source and destination, an election official who was involved in monitoring movements, said.</p>

<p><br />
Till date over Rs 70 lakh have been seized from several persons in the state which is going to poll on Tuesday.</p>


The seizure was made from the Lad Smit area and follows the seizure of Rs 12 lakh in Ri-Bhoi district on Sunday.

Election authorities in poll-bound Meghalaya seized over Rs 38 lakh in cash from East Khasi Hills district today, just a day of the polling for the state assembly. The seizure was made from the Lad Smit area and follows the seizure of Rs 12 lakh in Ri-Bhoi district on Sunday. The static surveillance team has seized Rs 38.67 lakh from one person under Madanrting police station limits today,? chief electoral officer F R Kharkongor told PTI. The seizure was made from a coal trader and a resident of West Jaintia Hills district who was travelling on a brand new SUV. The cash was handed over to concerned authorities and investigation is on to find out the source and destination, an election official who was involved in monitoring movements, said. Till date over Rs 70 lakh have been seized from several persons in the state which is going to poll on Tuesday.

Ahead of polling, election authorities seize Rs 38 lakhs in Meghalaya

<p>On February 18 this year, the candidate from Williamnagar Constituency of Garo Hills Meghalaya, Jonathone N Sangma and three of his supporters were killed in an IED blast allegedly triggered by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a militant outfit active in Garo Hills. The GNLA, led by its elusive commander-in-chief Sohan D Shira, has been unleashing a reign of terror in areas where it dominates which are mainly East and South Garo Hills.</p>

<p>Jonathone and some of his supporters had gone to Sawilgre village under Samanda block for an election campaign that Sunday afternoon. He was called there by the villagers who said they wanted to discuss certain issues with him. But perhaps the villagers were used as decoys by the GNLA. The villagers never turned up at that village. Only the chairs and tables were kept there. After waiting for a while,&nbsp;Jonathone decided to return to Williamnagar. Just then the IED blast was triggered and Jonathone and three others died on the spot. They included a young volunteer, a security guard and one more supporter. The other three injured persons were taken to a Williamnagar Civil Hospital but one more had succumbed to his injuries recently.</p>

<p>And then, barely a week after the dreadful incident, on February 24, Sohan D Shira the GNLA supremo who had repeatedly given the slip to the Meghalaya Police, including its Special Force, was shot dead. What raises doubts about this killing is that there were no casualties on the police side or on the side of the rebel outfit. There were no signs of an encounter. It looked like a clean, well-planned operation.</p>

<p>After Jonathone&rsquo;s death, several troubling questions were raised. Posters had been put up in the constituency, asking people not to vote for him. The posters had pictures of blood and bullets, and warned the villagers of serious consequences if they vote for him. But this is not the first time such posters were out up. In 2013, too, Jonathone faced similar threats. He lodged an FIR even then but the case has progressed at snail pace and is lying unsolved at the lower courts.</p>

<p>Since Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has made peace, security and political stability his election plank, Jonathone&rsquo;s political assassination have given a lie to that claim. And then the equally sudden elimination of Sohan D Shira who has evaded arrest for a very long time has raised doubts about the whole chain of events. Following Jonathone&rsquo;s killing, political parties, especially the National People&rsquo;s Party, the main rival of the ruling Congress in Garo Hills, had demanded an independent probe by the National Investigating Agency (NIA).</p>

<p>Was it the fear that the Agency might get to the root of the militant-politician nexus, the reason why Sohan Shira was eliminated because with his death all the well-kept secrets about who his handlers were have died with him. &nbsp;Meanwhile, it is learned that the Deputy Commander of the dreaded ULFA (Independent) based in Myanmar, Drishti Rajkhowa will be taking Sohan Shira&rsquo;s place soon. That should spell more trouble for the land of clouds unless swift action is taken by the next government to be formed post-March 3, next. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, on the election front, Jonathone Sangma&rsquo;s death could make things a bit more difficult for the Congress Party to return to power in Meghalaya. The Party is now seen as being capable of killing a dreaded militant if it wants to and to allow things to simmer if it chooses to. The NPP and BJP (which hitherto had very little leeway in Garo Hills) might both be able to capitalise from this new turn of events.</p>

<p>At last, campaigning for the February 27 elections ended on Saturday 24 last. In Garo Hills, the mood was sombre following the death of Sohan Shira. In the rest of the state, people heaved a sigh of relief, especially students preparing for their respective Board examinations. It has been a raucous election in Meghalaya with political parties and candidate using music to score political points above their rivals. For music composers and singers this has been a very lucrative season.</p>

<p>The BJP commissioned the legendary singer, 70-year-old Lou Majaw, to compose their theme song. Other parties just took off from there. On Saturday there were huge motor rallies which brought traffic in Shillong and its suburbs to a standstill. The amount spent on these rallies and on feeding the candidates daily for a month, and if supporters are to be believed, then even money was actively distributed by candidates on Saturday to ensure they remain loyal, must far exceed the upper limit set by the ECI. But who cares?</p>

<p>Most sitting MLAs use the MLA (Local Area Development Scheme) funds of Rs 2 crore per year to meet their private election expenses. The loopholes are yet to be plugged to prevent siphoning of public money through the Scheme. And so we are all good!</p>

<p>With a heavy sense of despair and futility even as the much touted &ldquo;Change&rdquo; which every political party promises appear like a mirage, the people of Meghalaya goes to vote tomorrow. A total of 370 candidates are in the fray of which 32 are women. The Congress has fielded candidates in 59 seats (election in Williamnagar is countermanded due to the death of Jonathone Sangma, the NCP candidate); the BJP in 47, NPP in 52 seats and the regional parties between them are contesting 42 seats. Most of the faces are tried and tested; hence the pessimism!</p>

<p>This time the prediction is that Meghalaya is headed for a hung assembly with no party getting the absolute majority. The fight really is between the NPP and Congress. That Meghalaya&rsquo;s next government will be a coalition of parties, goes without saying and whether this will result in another period of political chaos is also a moot point.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)</em></p>


Jonathone Sangma’s death could make things a bit more difficult for the Congress Party to return to power in Meghalaya.

On February 18 this year, the candidate from Williamnagar Constituency of Garo Hills Meghalaya, Jonathone N Sangma and three of his supporters were killed in an IED blast allegedly triggered by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a militant outfit active in Garo Hills. The GNLA, led by its elusive commander-in-chief Sohan D Shira, has been unleashing a reign of terror in areas where it dominates which are mainly East and South Garo Hills. Jonathone and some of his supporters had gone to Sawilgre village under Samanda block for an election campaign that Sunday afternoon. He was called there by the villagers who said they wanted to discuss certain issues with him. But perhaps the villagers were used as decoys by the GNLA. The villagers never turned up at that village. Only the chairs and tables were kept there. After waiting for a while, Jonathone decided to return to Williamnagar. Just then the IED blast was triggered and Jonathone and three others died on the spot. They included a young volunteer, a security guard and one more supporter. The other three injured persons were taken to a Williamnagar Civil Hospital but one more had succumbed to his injuries recently. And then, barely a week after the dreadful incident, on February 24, Sohan D Shira the GNLA supremo who had repeatedly given the slip to the Meghalaya Police, including its Special Force, was shot dead. What raises doubts about this killing is that there were no casualties on the police side or on the side of the rebel outfit. There were no signs of an encounter. It looked like a clean, well-planned operation. After Jonathone’s death, several troubling questions were raised. Posters had been put up in the constituency, asking people not to vote for him. The posters had pictures of blood and bullets, and warned the villagers of serious consequences if they vote for him. But this is not the first time such posters were out up. In 2013, too, Jonathone faced similar threats. He lodged an FIR even then but the case has progressed at snail pace and is lying unsolved at the lower courts. Since Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has made peace, security and political stability his election plank, Jonathone’s political assassination have given a lie to that claim. And then the equally sudden elimination of Sohan D Shira who has evaded arrest for a very long time has raised doubts about the whole chain of events. Following Jonathone’s killing, political parties, especially the National People’s Party, the main rival of the ruling Congress in Garo Hills, had demanded an independent probe by the National Investigating Agency (NIA). Was it the fear that the Agency might get to the root of the militant-politician nexus, the reason why Sohan Shira was eliminated because with his death all the well-kept secrets about who his handlers were have died with him. Meanwhile, it is learned that the Deputy Commander of the dreaded ULFA (Independent) based in Myanmar, Drishti Rajkhowa will be taking Sohan Shira’s place soon. That should spell more trouble for the land of clouds unless swift action is taken by the next government to be formed post-March 3, next. Meanwhile, on the election front, Jonathone Sangma’s death could make things a bit more difficult for the Congress Party to return to power in Meghalaya. The Party is now seen as being capable of killing a dreaded militant if it wants to and to allow things to simmer if it chooses to. The NPP and BJP (which hitherto had very little leeway in Garo Hills) might both be able to capitalise from this new turn of events. At last, campaigning for the February 27 elections ended on Saturday 24 last. In Garo Hills, the mood was sombre following the death of Sohan Shira. In the rest of the state, people heaved a sigh of relief, especially students preparing for their respective Board examinations. It has been a raucous election in Meghalaya with political parties and candidate using music to score political points above their rivals. For music composers and singers this has been a very lucrative season. The BJP commissioned the legendary singer, 70-year-old Lou Majaw, to compose their theme song. Other parties just took off from there. On Saturday there were huge motor rallies which brought traffic in Shillong and its suburbs to a standstill. The amount spent on these rallies and on feeding the candidates daily for a month, and if supporters are to be believed, then even money was actively distributed by candidates on Saturday to ensure they remain loyal, must far exceed the upper limit set by the ECI. But who cares? Most sitting MLAs use the MLA (Local Area Development Scheme) funds of Rs 2 crore per year to meet their private election expenses. The loopholes are yet to be plugged to prevent siphoning of public money through the Scheme. And so we are all good! With a heavy sense of despair and futility even as the much touted “Change” which every political party promises appear like a mirage, the people of Meghalaya goes to vote tomorrow. A total of 370 candidates are in the fray of which 32 are women. The Congress has fielded candidates in 59 seats (election in Williamnagar is countermanded due to the death of Jonathone Sangma, the NCP candidate); the BJP in 47, NPP in 52 seats and the regional parties between them are contesting 42 seats. Most of the faces are tried and tested; hence the pessimism! This time the prediction is that Meghalaya is headed for a hung assembly with no party getting the absolute majority. The fight really is between the NPP and Congress. That Meghalaya’s next government will be a coalition of parties, goes without saying and whether this will result in another period of political chaos is also a moot point. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Will BJP be able to capitalise on Jonathone Sangma's death in Meghalaya?

<p>Addressing an election rally in Meghalaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the people&nbsp;that the state needs a double engine, one from Meghalaya and other from Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, &quot;if both the engines come together, all the work which had been halted for 50 years will begin at once&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Meghalaya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally in West Garo Hills district&#39;s Phulbari <a href="https://t.co/pIEuy1tJHf">pic.twitter.com/pIEuy1tJHf</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/966614698182565888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Taking a shot at the Congress government in the state he said &quot;the current government has wasted your 50 years. I urge you to provide us with one opportunity for five years&quot;.</p>

<p>He added that no roads were to be seen in the state even after crore of rupees was released by the Central government.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What is the reason that even if Crores of rupees are released by Delhi for roads, there are no roads to be seen in Meghalaya?: PM Modi in Phulbari, Meghalaya <a href="https://t.co/CwZPOY938H">pic.twitter.com/CwZPOY938H</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/966640560860573696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>PM Modi said, &quot;Today the world is appreciating India, the reason behind this is not Modi but you, the people&quot;.</p>

<p>The tenure of the current 60-member assembly in the state will end&nbsp;on March 6, while the polls are scheduled for February 27.&nbsp;</p>

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PM Modi said, 'if both the engines come together, all the work which had been halted for 50 years will begin at once'

Addressing an election rally in Meghalaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the people that the state needs a double engine, one from Meghalaya and other from Delhi. He said, "if both the engines come together, all the work which had been halted for 50 years will begin at once". Meghalaya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally in West Garo Hills district's Phulbari pic.twitter.com/pIEuy1tJHf — ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2018 × Taking a shot at the Congress government in the state he said "the current government has wasted your 50 years. I urge you to provide us with one opportunity for five years". He added that no roads were to be seen in the state even after crore of rupees was released by the Central government. What is the reason that even if Crores of rupees are released by Delhi for roads, there are no roads to be seen in Meghalaya?: PM Modi in Phulbari, Meghalaya pic.twitter.com/CwZPOY938H — ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2018 × PM Modi said, "Today the world is appreciating India, the reason behind this is not Modi but you, the people". The tenure of the current 60-member assembly in the state will end on March 6, while the polls are scheduled for February 27.

Meghalaya govt has wasted 50 years, says PM Modi

<p>Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that he will change the structure of the Goods and Services Tax&nbsp; (GST)&nbsp;if his party comes to power in the centre.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>While addressing an election campaign in poll-bound state Meghalaya he said: &quot; If we come to power in the centre, we are going to change the structure of GST and simplify it&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If we come back to power in the centre, we are going change the structure of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GST?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GST</a> &amp; simplify it: Rahul Gandhi in Shillong <a href="https://t.co/mkBu4fg3hJ">pic.twitter.com/mkBu4fg3hJ</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958639725371326467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>He also invited women from the state to join his party.</p>

<p>Gandhi said &quot; One of the most important&nbsp;things to be done in the Congress is to balance the number of men we put to fight election and the number of women. I would&nbsp;like to invite women to join the party in Meghalaya so that we have more and more women to choose from&quot;.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">One of the most important thing to be done in the Congress is to balance the number of men we put to fight election &amp; the number of women. I would like to invite women to join the party in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Meghalaya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Meghalaya</a> so that we have more &amp; more women to choose from: Rahul Gandhi in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Shillong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Shillong</a> <a href="https://t.co/otBarDiYSI">pic.twitter.com/otBarDiYSI</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958641360562683904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>He also hit out at the BJP-RSS claiming that their idea is to&nbsp;dis-empower women.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said &quot; RSS idea aimed at dis-empowering women. Does anyone know how many leadership positions are with women in RSS? Zero. If you see picture of Mahatma Gandhi you will find women on his side, but if you see picture of Mohan Bhagwat, he &#39;ll be alone.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">RSS idea aimed at dis-empowering women. Does anyone know many leadership positions are with women in RSS? Zero. If you see pix of Mahatma Gandhi you&#39;ll find women on this side (right), this side (left) but if you see pix of Mohan Bhagwat, he&#39;ll be alone or surrounded by men: RG <a href="https://t.co/52xSDReDLc">pic.twitter.com/52xSDReDLc</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/958638837076512768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gandhi said &quot; We are fighting RSS ideology across the nation. Idea is that one form of thinking is imposed on the country. What BJP and RSS are doing in all over India and particularly in North-east is attempting to undermine your culture, language and way of life&quot;.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-announces-candidateslist-for-tripura-meghalaya-30935" target="_blank">Polling in Meghalaya and Nagaland </a>will take place on February 27.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


While addressing an election campaign in poll-bound state Meghalaya he said: 'If we come to power in the centre, we are going to change the structure of GST and simplify it'

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that he will change the structure of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) if his party comes to power in the centre. While addressing an election campaign in poll-bound state Meghalaya he said: " If we come to power in the centre, we are going to change the structure of GST and simplify it". If we come back to power in the centre, we are going change the structure of #GST & simplify it: Rahul Gandhi in Shillong pic.twitter.com/mkBu4fg3hJ — ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018 × He also invited women from the state to join his party. Gandhi said " One of the most important things to be done in the Congress is to balance the number of men we put to fight election and the number of women. I would like to invite women to join the party in Meghalaya so that we have more and more women to choose from". One of the most important thing to be done in the Congress is to balance the number of men we put to fight election & the number of women. I would like to invite women to join the party in #Meghalaya so that we have more & more women to choose from: Rahul Gandhi in #Shillong pic.twitter.com/otBarDiYSI — ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018 × He also hit out at the BJP-RSS claiming that their idea is to dis-empower women. He said " RSS idea aimed at dis-empowering women. Does anyone know how many leadership positions are with women in RSS? Zero. If you see picture of Mahatma Gandhi you will find women on his side, but if you see picture of Mohan Bhagwat, he 'll be alone. RSS idea aimed at dis-empowering women. Does anyone know many leadership positions are with women in RSS? Zero. If you see pix of Mahatma Gandhi you'll find women on this side (right), this side (left) but if you see pix of Mohan Bhagwat, he'll be alone or surrounded by men: RG pic.twitter.com/52xSDReDLc — ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018 × Gandhi said " We are fighting RSS ideology across the nation. Idea is that one form of thinking is imposed on the country. What BJP and RSS are doing in all over India and particularly in North-east is attempting to undermine your culture, language and way of life". Polling in Meghalaya and Nagaland will take place on February 27.

If we come back to Centre, we will change GST structure: Rahul Gandhi

<p>Eight MLAs in Meghalaya, which includes five from Congress, one from UDP and two independents, joined the National People&#39;s Party today.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Meghalaya: Eight MLAs (5- Congress, 1- UDP &amp; 2 independents) join National People&#39;s Party (NPP) in Shillong <a href="https://t.co/l3iHD7XEWU">pic.twitter.com/l3iHD7XEWU</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/948871822472232960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The MLAs had quit their respective parties on December 29.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The members of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-five-congress-mlas-resign-from-assembly-28044" target="_blank">ruling Congress who resigned from&nbsp;the party </a>included former Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh.</p>

<p>Along with them, three other MLAs, one from the United Democratic Party and two Independents had resigned from the House.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rowell had already announced that the eight MLAs would join the National People&#39;s Party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>National People&#39;s Party is an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).</p>

<p>On January 2,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/meghalaya-4-mlas-quit-congress-to-join-bjp-ahead-of-assembly-elections-28323" target="_blank">four MLAs from Congress in Meghalaya had joined the BJP party</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The number of Congress Legislators in the 60 member assembly seat has reduced to 24.&nbsp;The Northeastern state will hold assembly elections this year after the current House ends on March 6.&nbsp;</p>


On January 2,?four MLAs from Congress in Meghalaya had joined the BJP party

Eight MLAs in Meghalaya, which includes five from Congress, one from UDP and two independents, joined the National People's Party today. Meghalaya: Eight MLAs (5- Congress, 1- UDP & 2 independents) join National People's Party (NPP) in Shillong pic.twitter.com/l3iHD7XEWU — ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2018 × The MLAs had quit their respective parties on December 29. The members of the ruling Congress who resigned from the party included former Deputy Chief Minister Rowell Lyngdoh. Along with them, three other MLAs, one from the United Democratic Party and two Independents had resigned from the House. Rowell had already announced that the eight MLAs would join the National People's Party. National People's Party is an ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). On January 2, four MLAs from Congress in Meghalaya had joined the BJP party. The number of Congress Legislators in the 60 member assembly seat has reduced to 24. The Northeastern state will hold assembly elections this year after the current House ends on March 6.

Meghalaya: 8 MLAs join NDA ally National People's Party