Lok Sabha Elections 2019: As the Election Commission of India has blown the poll bugle for the much-anticipated Lok Sabha elections 2019, preparations are in full swing for smooth conduction of phase-wise and constituency-wise voting. With over 850 million eligible voters expected to exercise their franchise to choose the Central government for the next five years, stakes are high for every political parties and candidate. Though model code of conduct has been implemented across the country, mega rallies, speeches and other political events have beefed up. Political parties in different states of the country are on its toes to figure out strategies to lure voters.


Just like any other Northeaster state, Meghalaya also seems unhappy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Major political parties in the state such as National People’s Party (NPP), BJP, Congress, United Democratic Party and others will lock horns to take over the two constituency seats.

As people in the state have welcomed EC’s decision to conduct Lok Sabha polls in a single phase to the two seats – Shillong and Tura on April 11, they expect free and fair polls. The ruling National People's Party (NPP), which is leading the six-party Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) coalition government, is expected to field a candidate in Tura parliamentary seat.

Interestingly BJP, which is the part of the ruling NPP coalition, has decided to contest elections on both the seats.

Here’s all you need to know about the Lok Sabha elections in Meghalaya:

Date of polling: April 11, 2019 (Thursday)

Counting of votes: May 23, 2019 (Thursday)

Ruling party: BJP (in coalition with NPP-UDP-PDF-HSPDP)

Total number of Lok Sabha seats: 2

Lok Sabha seat distribution: Congress – 1; NPP – 1

Total voters: Around 18, 00,000

Voter turnout (in 2014 Lok Sabha polls): 68.80 per cent

Number of assembly seats: 60

Partywise break-up of assembly seats: NPP- 20, BJP- 2, CONG- 19, IND- 3, UDP- 6, PDF- 4, KHNAM- 1, HSPDP- 2

Important constants of Manipur:

NPP: Conrad Sangma, Agatha Sangma; BJP: A Hek; CONG: Vincent Pala, Mukul Sangma

About 2014 Lok Sabha Elections in Meghalaya:

The general election 2014 was held in the state of Manipur in two phases. Outer Manipur got inked on 9 April 2014, while the Inner Manipur constituency voted on 17 April 2014. Congress lost ground to the PA Sangma-led NPP and the regional parties in the polls.

Congress' MP Vincent H Pala somehow managed to retain the Shillong seat, the winning margin has narrowed from 67,520 in 2009 to only 40,348 in 2014 clearly indicating an increasing dominance of the regional parties.

About 2009 Lok Sabha Election in Meghalaya:

Former CM and NPP leader PA Sangma won from Tura Lok Sabha seat while Vincent H Pala of Congress won from Shillong constituency in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections held in Meghalaya. Sangma won the Tura seat for the record ninth time by defeating his nearest rival Congress candidate Daryl William Ch Momin by a margin of around 40,000 votes.

Pala too retained his seat securing over two lakh votes leading over his closest rival Independent PBM Basaiawmoit by a margin of over 40,000 votes.