Meghalaya poll Results: Conrad Sangma to meet governor, to stake claim to form govt

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is likely to meet state Governor Phagu Chauhan on Friday morning to stake claim to form the next government, officials said on Thursday.

Sangma, also the president of the ruling NPP, will go to Raj Bhawan at 11:30 am on Friday and meet the governor to apprise him of the assembly election results, the official said.

"The MLAs of NPP and other allies will also accompany him. They will stake claim to form the next government," he added. Before meeting the Governor, Sangma will address a press conference.
 

Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie said the saffron party will submit a letter of support to the NPP on Thursday night to form the next government in the state.

BJP, which contested the assembly elections alone and won two seats despite being in an alliance government with the NPP during the last five years, would have bagged more seats had the two allies fought in partnership, he said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to meet the governor on Friday at 11.30 am to stake claim to form a government with BJP in Meghalaya.

Addressing party karyakartas at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, PM Modi said, "I have visited the Northeast more than 50 times after becoming Prime Minister. People of Northeast now know that they are not neglected."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses BJP workers at party Headquarters in New Delhi.

#March2WithArnab | Tune in here to watch, PM Modi addresses BJP workers at party Headquarters in Delhihttps://t.co/SzuOZ5uLrN#PMModi | #Elections2023 #TripuraElections #MeghalayaElections #NagalandElections pic.twitter.com/R1T9Ib3TYu

— Republic (@republic)

"The results (of Assembly polls) that we are seeing today is due to the vision of PM Modi which includes empowering the poor, women," said BJP chief JP Nadda.

He added, "Before 2014, the northeast was known for blockades, insurgency, terrorism and target killings. However, the fate and picture of the northeast have changed now. Today the northeast is known for peace and stability."

Addressing BJP workers and supporters, party chief JP Nadda said, "On behalf of our karyakartas, I welcome and congratulate PM Modi ji on BJP's splendid performance in the northeast elections."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached BJP Headquarters in New Delhi. He will address BJP workers and supporters shortly on BJP's powerful performance in the northeast.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived at BJP headquarters in New Delhi as the saffron party retained Tripura and Nagaland and reunited with ally NPP in Nagaland.

#March2WithArnab | Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives at BJP Headquarters in New Delhi; PM Modi to address BJP workers and supporters shortly on BJP's powerful performance in the northeast

https://t.co/xEPKuoCH2v#AmitShah | #PMModi | #Elections2023 #TripuraElections pic.twitter.com/3klfbJZEbu

— Republic (@republic)

"I am grateful to the people of Meghalaya for the support they have shown towards @BJP4Meghalaya in the State Assembly elections. Under the guidance and blessing of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji, Meghalaya will see growth in leaps and bounds," Manipur CM N Biren Singh tweeted on Meghalaya elections.

I am grateful to the people of Meghalaya for the support they have shown towards @BJP4Meghalaya in the State Assembly elections.

Under the guidance and blessing of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi ji, Meghalaya will see growth in leaps and bounds.

— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh)

Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawri said, "I received a call from the party's national president JP Nadda today to support NPP in forming government in the state. I have spoken to CM Conard Sangma and informed him about the party's decision. I'll meet him and submit a letter of support to him tonight."

Speaking exclusively to Republic TV, Sangma said that he is open to an alliance option with the BJP given the 'fractured mandate.' 

Talking about his party's performance, Sangma said, "We have done better than last time which is what my initial stand has been. And few seats were there where we lost by less than four votes, very very narrow margins were there. So overall, we could clearly see that there is very strong support for the National People's Party. So we have done well but looks like we are falling short. So we will explore all the options possible." READ THE FULL STORY.

BJP national president J P Nadda has advised the party's Meghalaya unit to support Conrad Sangma-led NPP, said Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Twitter.

Adaraniya Sri @JPNadda ji , the national president of the @BJP4India has advised the state unit of BJP, Meghalaya to support the National people’s Party in forming the next government in Meghalaya. @SangmaConrad

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa)

Assam CM Himanta Sarma said that CM Sangma called Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking support to form a government.

Sri @SangmaConrad , Chief Minister of Meghalaya, called @AmitShah ji, Hon'ble Home Minister, and sought his support and blessings in forming the new Government.
.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa)

According to EC, NPP has won 18 seats, UDP (10), Congress (5), TMC (3) and BJP (2).

According to EC's latest data (as of 05:05 pm), NOTA has more votes than JDU in Meghalaya. NOTA's vote share is 0.8% while JDU's is 0.05%. On the other hand, NPP, the single-largest party has got over 31% of the vote share.

CM Conrad Sangma's brother James Sangma lost his previously held seat of Dadenggre to TMC's Rupa Marak. Marak won the election with a narrow margin of 18 votes.

According to EC, BJP state chief Ernest Marwie lost the West Shillong seat. UDP's Paul Lyngdoh won from the same seat. Lyngdoh defeated NPP's Mohendro Rapsang, his nearest rival, with a margin of 3485 votes.

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya won 14 seats, and was leading in 11 other constituencies, the Election Commission said on Thursday as the counting of votes for the assembly elections was underway.

The United Democratic Party (UDP) bagged nine constituencies and was ahead in two seats. The Congress won four seats and was leading in one constituency. The Trinamool Congress won three seats and was ahead in two other constituencies.

The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) won two seats each. The VPP was ahead in two constituencies. 

The BJP was leading in three seats, and the People's Democratic Front in two constituencies. Two Independent candidates emerged victorious, as per the latest trends available.

Responding to BJP's performance in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland elections, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said that 2023 started on a positive note for the  BJP. "For the first time in the northeast has come a region which is no more neglected. The new India, with the new northeast, is different. Northeast is now a vibrant region. Northeast people are now seeing the light of development. The transformation of Northeast only because of the commitment and vision of the Prime Minister," he said.

According to sources, Conrad Sangma will be leaving for Shillong for alliance prospects as his party NPP seems to be falling short of a majority. As per the EC, Sangma's party has bagged 6 seats while leading in 19. Even if NPP win all 19 seats, it will still be 6 short to form a government on its own in Meghalaya. 

NPP and UDP have bagged 5 seats as the counting of polls is underway. NDP is currently leading in 20 seats, UDP (6), Congress (4), TMC (4) and BJP (3).

Speaking to Republic, Conrad Sangma said, "We have done better than last time. We lost a few seats with a narrow margin. We have done well but we are falling short. We have to explore options."

NPP supporters and workers were seen celebrating outside Conrad Sangmal's residence as the party leads in the Meghalaya polls.

CM Conrad Sangma expressed gratitude towards the people of Meghalaya as his party NPP leads in 21 seats while winning 5. He said, "We'd like to thank the state's people for voting for us. We are short on a few numbers, so we'll wait for the final results. We will see what next steps are to be taken based on the final results."

#WATCH | Tura, Meghalaya | "We'd like to thank the people of the state for having voted for us. We are short on a few numbers, so we'll wait for the final results to come out. We will see what next steps are to be taken based on the final results," says Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma pic.twitter.com/281euGC6xp

— ANI (@ANI)

According to EC, Congress candidate Saleng A. Sangma has won from Gambegre seat with a margin of 2871 votes.

According to EC trends on all 59 seats, the ruling NPP is leading in 22 and has registered victory in 4 seats. Congress and UDP have also registered victory on 1 seat each.

According to EC, NPP leader Subir Marak has registered a victory from the Rangsakona seat defeating TMC's Zenith Sangma with a margin of 788 votes.

According to EC, the NPP is ahead in 21 seats, UDP (10), TMC (5), Congress (4) and BJP (3).

According to EC, NPP leader Coming One Ymbon won from the Raliang seat defeating Lakhon Biam of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to the EC, the vote share of the NPP is 31.2% (as of 12:40 pm). It is followed by UDP with a vote share of 16.6%.

Former CM and TMC leader Mukul Sangma is ahead in the Songsak seat with 6390 votes while NPP's Nihim Shira is just 77 votes behind Sangma. The TMC leader is trailing in the Tikrikilla seat.

According to the EC, CM Conrad Sangram's NPP is leading in 23 seats, UDP (8), BJP (5), TMC (5) and Congress (5).

According to EC, NPP leader Sniawbhalang Dhar registered a victory from the Nartiang constituency with 41.56%. Dhar won from Nartiang by 2123 votes defeating Emland Laloo of Congress.

CM Conrad Sangma is leading in the South Tura assembly seat with 5879 votes, as per EC.

Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawrie is trailing in the West Shillong seat with 3771 votes, according to the latest EC trends. UDP's Paul Lyngdoh is leading in the same seat with 7917 votes. as per ECI.

According to the EC trends, NPP is leading in 24, UDP (8), BJP (5), TMC (5) and Congress (5). The NPP has also registered a victory in the Nartiang seat.

NPP leader Jimmy Sangma is leading in the Tikrikilla seat with 6572 seats, while the former CM and TMC leader Mukul Sarma is trailing from the same seat with 3453 votes, according to the EC.
 

Amid the counting of votes, preparations for the celebration are underway at CM Conrad Sangma's residence in Tura as his party National People's Party leads in the Meghalaya elections.

Meghalaya | Preparations for the celebration are underway at CM Conrad Sangma's residence in Tura as his party National People's Party leading on 22 of the total 59 seats so far. pic.twitter.com/O9Gpc97hg4

— ANI (@ANI)

According to the EC trends, the NPP is leading in 24 seats, seven seats short of the majority. On the other hand, its former ally BJP is leading in 5 seats. TMC is leading in 4 seats, Congress in 5.

According to EC, NPP leads in 22 seats, UDP (7), BJP (6), Congress (6) and TMC (5).

As per the EC trends, Conrad Sangma's NPP is leading in 20 seats, UDP (7), BJP (6), TMC (5) and Congress (6)

Former CM and TMC leader Mukul Sangma who is contesting from two seats, is trailing in Tikrikilla but leading in Songsak. 

NPP is leading in the 19 seats, as per the EC's latest trends. The UDP is ahead in 8 seats, BJP (5), TMC (5) and Congress (4).

According to the EC's latest trends, there is a neck-to-neck fight between CM Conrad Sangma and BJP's Bernard Marak in the South Tura seat. The CM is leading over the BJP candidate by only 44 votes.

According to EC trends, NPP leads in 17 seats and UDP is ahead in 8. On the other hand, TMC and BJP are leading in 5 seats each.

NPP Rajya Sabha MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi hints at making an alliance with BJP in Meghalaya.

#March2WithArnab | NPP Rajya Sabha MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi hints at making alliance with BJP in Meghalaya.#MeghalayaElections2023 #TripuraElection2023 #NagalandElections2023

Tune inhttps://t.co/nLYy2w7T5Y pic.twitter.com/leUfQrdpAt

— Republic (@republic)

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, along with his mother Soradini K Sangma, brother James Sangma and sister Agatha K Sangma, visited the grave of his father & former CM, PA Sangma in Tura on the day of the counting of votes.

#WATCH | Meghalaya's incumbent Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, along with his mother Soradini K Sangma, brother James Sangma and sister Agatha K Sangma, visits the grave of his father & former CM, PA Sangma in Tura on the day of counting of votes. pic.twitter.com/YroEdv8nhJ

— ANI (@ANI)

NPP maintains the lead in 17 seats, UDP (9), TMC (5), BJP (4), VPP (4) and Congress (2), as per EC trends.

Congress Meghalaya chief Vincent Pala is trailing from Sutnga Saipung seat, as per EC. NPP's Santa Mary Shylla is leading with over 43% vote share as of EC's latest trend.

As per the EC trends on 45 seats, NPP is leading in 16 seats, UDP (9), BJP (4), TMC (4), Voice of People's party (4) and Congress (2).

As per the EC, Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawrie is trailing from the West Shillong seat as Paul Lyngdoh from UDP leads in the constituency.

NPP is leading in 14 seats while UDP is leading in 5, as per EC's latest trends. BJP and Voice of the People's Party lead in 4 seats each. Congress and TMC are ahead in 3 seats each.

Former CM Mukul Sanma is trailing from the Tikrikilla seat with NPP candidate Jimmy Sangma leads. 

CM Conrad Sangma's NPP is leading in 11 seats per the EC trends. UDP is ahead in 4 seats while BJP, Congress and Voice of the People Party lead in 3 seats each. TMC is ahead in 2 seats.

NPP leader Ransom Sutnga said, "According to our assessment our party’s position is very good. We are expecting much more seats than shown in the exit polls. We are going to form the government."

As per the EC, NPP is leading in 9 seats while UDP is ahead in 4 seats. Congress and BJP are leading in 3 seats each, while TMC is leading in 1.

According to the EC, Congress is leading in 3 seats while BJP and TMC are leading in 2 and 1 seats respectively. UDP is taking the second spot with 4 seats as NPP leads in 8 seats.

As per the EC's latest trends on 20 seats, NPP is leading in 8 seats, UDP in 3, Congress (2), HSPDP (2), TMC (1) and BJP (1).

As per the EC's latest data, Deputy CM and NPP national VP Prestone Tynsong is leading in the Pynursla seat. 

As per the EC's latest trends, the NPP is leading with a vote share of 31.94%, TMC (16.88%), BJP (7.38%) and Congress (15.12%).

The Conrad Sangma party is leading in 6 seats as per EC's latest trend. On the other hand, the BJP, TMC and Congress are leading in 1 seat each. UDP is leading in 2 seats.

As per the EC, the ruling NPP is leading in 4 seats, UDP (2) while Congress, TMC, HSPDP and GNC leading in 1 seat each.

NPP is leading in 3 seats and TMC in 2. UDP, HSPDP and Garo National Council are leading in 1 seat each.

As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), TMC and Garo National Council are leading in one seat each. TMC's Dr Rajesh M Marak leads from the Rongara Siju assembly seat, as per ECI. Garo National Council's Nikman Ch Marak leading from the Chokpot assembly seat, according to EC.

According to the EC's data, NPP, UDP and Garo National Council are leading in 1 seat each while the TMC is ahead in 2 seats as counting is underway.

CM Conrad Sangma's party NPP is leading in 24 seats while TMC is ahead in 11. BJP is leading 9 seats, Congress (6) and UDP (8)

According to the EC, TMC is leading in early trends in 2 seats, while Garo National Council is ahead in 1 seat.

As per the early trends, BJP takes the second spot with leads in 11 seats. NPP maintains the lead in 24 seats while TMC is ahead in 9 seats.

NPP is ahead in 24 seats while TMC in 12, BJP (11), Congress (6) and UDP (5).

As per early trends, NPP is leading in 26 seats while the BJP is leading in 10, taking the 2nd spot. TMC is leading in 9, Congress (6) and UDP (7)

As per the early trends, NPP's former ally BJP is ahead in 10 seats while TMC is leading in 11. NPP is leading in 23 seats, and Congress and UDP in 7 seats each.

The ruling NPP is leading in 24 seats, TMC (12), BJP (9), Congress (7) and UDP (6).

As per the early trends, TMC performs significantly well as it leads in 14 seats taking the second spot. The NPP has still maintained leads over others with leads in 22 seats.

As per the early trends on all the 59 contested seats in Meghalaya, CM Conrad Sangma's party is only 4 seats short of the majority. BJP is maintaining a lead in 8 seats, TMC in 9, Congress in 8 and UDP in 6, per early trends.

As per the early trends, NPP is leading in 27 seats, BJP in 8, TMC (9), Congress (8), UDP (6).

Both BJP and TMC are leading in 10 seats each as per the early trends. NPP is leading in 28 seats while Congress in 4. 

Speaking with Republic, NPP leader Dasakhiatbha Lamare said that they will come in the full majority and will form a government. 

As per the early trends, NPP is 3 seats short of a majority. The Conrad Sangma party is leading in 28 seats in the early trends.

As per the early trends, CM Conrad Sangma is leading in the early trends from the South Tura seat. Conrad's party (NPP) is leading in 22 seats, TMC (10) and BJP (9).

As per early trends, NPP is leading in 12 seats, BJP (3), TMC (5) and Congress (2)

As per the early trends in the postal ballot counting, NPP is leading in 5 seats, TMC in 3 and BJP in 2.

NPP leads in 3, BJP 1 and TMC in 3 seats, as per early trends. 

As per the early trends, NPP is leading in 2 seats, while TMC in 1.

Watch Meghalaya Assembly elections 2023 results LIVE on Republic:

The counting of votes for the Meghalaya Assembly begins. The postal ballot counting commenced at 8 am, following which the EVM counting will begin around 08:30 am.
 

In the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly Elections, a major battle was seen between the then-incumbent Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of the Congress and National People's Party (NPP) candidate Conrad Sangma. The mandate of the people in 2018 dethroned the then-CM Mukul Sangma of the Congress and NPPs Conrad Sangma went on to form the government with the support of BJP, UDP and HSPDP. (Read full article)

The counting of votes will begin at 08:00 am on Thursday. Visuals from the counting centre at Extension Training Centre in Tura in Meghalaya.

As Meghalaya gears up for big results, watch the assembly election results LIVE on Republic with Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.

National People's Party (NPP):

• Creation of 5 lakh jobs over the next five years.
• A special focus on entrepreneurship, tourism, agro-processing and knowledge/digital sectors in both the urban and rural areas of the state.
• Creation of 1,000 Chief Minister's Facilitation Centers to deliver government services to every village by engaging a cadre of Village Community Facilitators (VCFs).
• Affordable Drug Centers have been planned to provide affordable medicines to the people.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP):

• The party has decided to enhance the amount paid annually to farmers by Rs 2,000 under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. 
• Free education for girls from kindergarten to post-graduation and giving a bond of Rs 50,000 on the birth of a girl child. 
• Creation of 5 lakh jobs over the next five years. 
• Key focus on agro-processing, tourism, entrepreneurship and knowledge/digital sectors in urban and rural areas of the state. 
• Creating multi-sectoral skill parks, livelihood sectors and exposure trips for the skill development of youths. 

Trinamool Congress: 

• The Mamata Banerjee party has promised 3 lakhs jobs in 5 years.
• A monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 per month to every unemployed youth between 21-40 years in the state under Meghalaya Youth Empowerment (MYE).
• The party has promised the facilitation of piped drinking water connections to all households.
• It also promised job cards to all individuals engaged in the tourism sector through the formalisation of their jobs.

Congress: 

• The party promised monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 to single Below Poverty Line (BPL) mothers.
• A job for every household.
•  It promised to provide an uninterrupted electricity supply to commercial and domestic users.
• Congress said it will bring in a law that will make it mandatory for the government to upload all documents related to development and infrastructure on portals.

The District Administration in Eastern West Khasi Hills district has imposed Section 144 in the region for the entire duration of the elections i.e. until the results are declared. In the interest of free, fair and smooth counting of votes in the designated counting halls, the administration has imposed section 144 in the region, according to the District Magistrate order.

• CM Conrad K Sangma: Chief Minister Sangma is contesting from the South Tura seat, which he won after being elected as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya in the bye-election for the seat in August 2018. He won against his nearest Congress rival Charlotte W Momin after getting 13,656 votes and by a margin of over 8,400 votes. Before becoming the CM, Sangma was the MP from Tura (2016-2018). BJP has fielded Bernard Marak, the vice president of the Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Richard Mrong Marak, Artist and Convenor, of West Garo Hills District Trinamool Congress will fight on behalf of TMC.
• Prestone Tynsong: The DyCM is contesting for the Pynursla assembly seat. In the last elections, NPP national VP and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong defeated Nehru Suting from UDP by 2,574 votes. BJP has fielded Rowelly Khongsni while Edmund Khongngai is contesting on behalf of the grand old party Congress. 
• Mukul Sangma: Former CM Mukul Sangma is contesting as a TMC candidate from two constituencies - Songsak and Tikrikilla. He is currently the leader of the opposition in the Meghalaya legislative assembly. 
• Ernest Mawrie: Meghalaya BJP Chief Ernest Mawrie will contest against UDP’s working president Paul Lyngdoh, who has been in the position since 2014.
• Vincent Pala: The Meghalaya Congress chief and Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala will contest his maiden assembly elections as the party dealt with a big blow with an overnight exodus of all the party MLAs to the TMC. The Grand Old party was the single largest party in the state in the 2018 elections with 21 MLAs. 

According to Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor, 22 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies have been retained for purposes of ensuring 24x7 safeguard protocols in respect of the strong rooms containing the polled Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) of 3,419 polling stations in the 59 poll-going Assembly Constituencies and will stay on till April 4 for any post-poll contingencies/exigencies.

There will be three tiers of security, with CAPF watching over the innermost layer and State Armed police watching over the second and third layers, according to Meghalaya CEO. For the whole duration of counting, all Counting Centers are placed under CCTV and webcast surveillance. There will be 383 rounds of counting in all, with the largest assembly constituency Mawlai in East Khasi Hills District receiving a maximum of nine rounds and smaller ACs like Dalu in West Garo Hills District receiving a maximum of four rounds.

After the exit polls conducted by several media organisations anticipated that Meghalaya will have a hung house with CM Conrad Sangma's NPP emerging as the single largest party, the CM stated that he would keep open all possibilities for forming a stable government.

"We will keep all our options open to form a stable government. We are happy to see the trend is in line as we expected to get more seats than we received last time,” said Sangma.
 

According to reports, today's vote-counting procedure will take place at 13 centres in all 12 district headquarters and one sub-divisional headquarters in Sohra.

To ensure free and fair assembly elections in Meghalaya, the Election Commission has ordered the sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border in the state, Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkong said on Friday. Notably, the border will stay closed until the counting process gets over. The poll panel has also ordered the sealing of the inter-state border with Assam till March 2, he said. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Earlier, while addressing an election rally in Meghalaya, PM Modi said the BJP does not see religion and that the citizens come first for the party. He said the BJP always comes back to power in states as it does not judge anyone based on caste, creed, or religion, and everyone gets to avail of the facilities provided by the BJP. He also said that every amenity is provided to people without bias, and the party just focuses on the betterment of the state.

Notably, the people of Meghalaya are all set to witness the election result today (march 2) that will determine who will rule the state for the next 5 years.

Over 75 per cent of the 21.6 lakh electors in Meghalaya voted on Monday till 5 pm and the polling was peaceful, according to Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor. READ FULL STORY HERE.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati ahead of the counting of votes for the assembly elections, sources said on Wednesday. Sarma, who heads the BJP-led North East Development Alliance (NEDA), met Sangma at a hotel in Guwahati on Tuesday night, they said. "Sangma was in Guwahati last night and Sarma, his friend, came and visited him at the hotel. They had a one-to-one meeting," a source told PTI.

The Congress party won the most number of seats (21) but failed to form a government after the ruling National People's Party (NPP) and the BJP forged an alliance. The NPP won 19 seats whereas the BJP managed to win in two constituencies. The NPP went on to form its government with the support of the BJP, UDP and other regional parties. 

The NPP and BJP, however, parted ways before the 2023 polls but are likely to join forces again after the results are announced. 

The Assembly election results for Meghalaya will be announced on March 2 and the electoral battle revolves largely around four major parties-- The National Progressive Party (NPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) or Trinamool Congress (TMC). 

The Meghalaya Assembly elections 2023 took place on February 27 and a total of 369 candidates contested from 59 out of 60 constituencies. The election in the Sohiong constituency was postponed following the demise of the state's former Home Minister and United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate, HDR Lyngdoh.

A total of 369 candidates contested the elections from 59 constituencies, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Out of the total, 36 are women with Congress fielding the most number of female candidates (10). As many as 3,419 booths were set up across the state for more than 21.6 lakh voters. 

The ruling National People's Party (NPP) led by CM Conrad Sangma has 57 candidates contesting the elections whereas BJP has fielded 60. Congress has 60 candidates as well whereas the TMC and United Democratic Party (UDP) has 56 and 46 candidates, respectively. 

According to the P-MARQ exit polls, the NPP will win 14-24 seats in the Meghalaya assembly out of 60 seats, followed by the TMC (8-18 seats). Congress is expected to settle between 4-10 seats whereas the BJP is likely to win 0 to 5 seats. Independent candidates, on the other hand, are expected to lead in 12 to 22 seats. The exit polls, however, predict that Meghalaya is heading toward a hung assembly for the second consecutive time, meaning no party would cross the majority mark of 31 wins.