Meghalaya Elections 2023: Will going without allies be a good decision for BJP?
On February 27, voting to choose new assembly members began at 7 am in both Nagaland and Meghalaya Elections 2023 under heavy security at every polling location.
Voting ended at 4 pm, and people were seen lining up outside polling places in Shillong and Kohima, the capitals of Meghalaya and Nagaland, respectively. Voter tallies will be counted on March 2.
Up to 3 pm this afternoon, 72.99% of eligible voters had cast votes in the Nagaland Assembly Elections, compared to 63.91% in Meghalaya. In both states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters—particularly young people and first-time voters—to cast a record number of votes. Almost 13 lakh voters in Nagaland will choose between 183 candidates running for 59 of a total of 60 seats.
In both of the northeastern states, where elections are being held for 59 seats each, there are a total of 352 major candidates. Each assembly has a strength of 60 seats. In Nagaland, a BJP candidate was declared to be unopposed, while voting was cancelled in one seat in Meghalaya due to a candidate’s passing.
Till 1 pm, 44.73% voter turnout recorded in #MeghalayaElections2023 and 57.06% in #NagalandElections2023 pic.twitter.com/6NVltIgxZt
— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2023
More than 1,300,000 people in Nagaland have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote to select out of 183 candidates for 59 assembly seats. Kazheto Kinimi, a BJP candidate and current MLA, won the Akuluto constituency in the Zunheboto district without opposition.
There are 2,291 booths where voting is taking place, 196 of which are being run by female poll workers and 10 by individuals with impairments.
#MeghalayaElections2023 sole temporary polling station set up at the Leprosy centre Nongpoh Ri Bhoi District.. reaching out to make elections truly Accessible for all voters https://t.co/rnjpolszlM pic.twitter.com/xyWQzAbG1V
— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) February 27, 2023
2018 Election Results
The National People’s Party (NPP), which is now in power, won 19 seats in the 2018 Assembly elections, followed by Congress with 21 seats and the BJP with two seats. Six seats were won by the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Even though Congress was the single-largest party, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), led by the NPP, was able to create the government with the help of the UDP, BJP, and other local parties.
However, the BJP and NPP have not allied ahead of the election and are instead running independently. Both the BJP and the Congress have put forth candidates for each seat.
Following the defection of 12 Congress MLAs in 2021, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which then held the position of the primary opposition party in Meghalaya, grew in strength, especially after former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma joined the party.
Meghalaya’s main players:
CM Conrad Sangma is contesting in the South Tura district. BJP contested Bernard N. Marak against the leader of the NPP. James Sangma of the NPP is contesting against Congress candidate Chesterfield Sangma in Dadenggre.
Under the Trinamool ticket, former CM Mukul Sangma is contesting for two seats in Tikrikilla and Songsak.
Metbah Lyngdoh, the UDP’s leader, is contesting from Mairang. Also, NPP compared Prestone Tynsong with Pynursla. Titosstar Well Chyne, a UDP candidate, is contesting in Sohra.
Charles Pyngrope from Nongthymmai was fielded by TMC. In South Shillong, the BJP ran Sanbor Shullai, and in West Shillong, Ernest Mawrie. The NPP’s East Shillong candidate is Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh.
The BJP fielded Alexander Laloo Hek in Pynthorumkhrah. Lahkmen Rymbui, the leader of the UDP, is contesting from Amlarem. Vincent H. Pala was heading for Congress in Sutnga Saipung. Kyrmen Shylla, a UDP candidate, is standing in Khliehriat.
Issues and Promises
The anti-incumbency factor may present a challenge for the ruling NPP, which is fighting for reelection. One of the key polling concerns this time is the absence of infrastructure development in rural and hilly areas. The NPP government is also challenged by allegations of corruption.
Illegal coal mining in the Jaintia and Khasi Hills could also influence the results of this year’s elections. Unemployment is a common complaint and demand among young people when it comes to important polling concerns. In their manifestos, each party pledged to create jobs and opportunities for elections. The long-standing NPP demand for an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Meghalaya was used as a weapon against the BJP.
Read more- Significant SC Judgements in February 2023, that Stand out
What is an Inner Line Permit? It is a legal document that a state government issues to let a citizen enter a protected region for a brief period. The Christian and Non-Christian groups are significant in Meghalaya polls as well, particularly in the Khasi Hills area.
Ernest Mawrie, the head of the BJP in Meghalaya, stated on Friday that the party would not place any restrictions on beef consumption if it were to win the state’s upcoming elections. Meghalaya is a state with a large Christian population, according to Ernest Mawrie, and if the BJP is elected, it will increase security for Christians.
Parties have displayed all of their strength this year when it comes to campaigning, whether it be making election promises or using slogans to target other groups, from the NPP to the BJP, Congress, and Trinamool. With PM Modi, National Home Minister Amit Shah, party leader JP Nadda, and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma conducting rallies, the BJP showed its power.
On 24 February, PM Modi also held a roadshow in Shillong. Rahul Gandhi conducted a rally in Shillong while he was absent from the Tripura campaign scene. Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool, addressed the people in Meghalaya. Mahua Moitra, a TMC MP, also campaigned for party candidates in the region.
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