1978 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

1978 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election
25 February 1978 1980 →
All 30 seats in the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
16 seats needed for a majority
Registered224,839
Turnout73.20%
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Prem Khandu Thungan
Party JP PPA
Seats won 17 8
Seat change New New
Elected Chief Minister

Prem Khandu Thungan
JP

The first elections to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly were held in on 25 February 1978.[1][2]

There were 30 single-member constituencies at the time of the election, out of whom two were reserved for Scheduled Tribes.[2] There was a total of 86 candidates participating. The maximum number of candidates was found in the Ziro constituency, with six candidates. In two constituencies (Prem Khandu Thungan from Dirang, Kalaktang and Noksong Boham from Niasua-Kanubari) there was only one candidate, who was elected unopposed. There were 29 Janata Party candidates, 21 People's Party of Arunachal candidates, 1 Indian National Congress candidate (Shri Tasso Grayu) and 35 independents in the fray.[2] The speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Nonemati, contested as a Janata Party candidate from Khonsa North constituency.[3] A total of 105 nominations had been presented, out of which 3 had been rejected by the Election Commission (a PPA candidate from Yingdiono-Pangin constituency, an independent from Ziro and an independent from Along North).[3]

A peculiar situation for the tribal societies of the Union Territory was that in many constituencies members of the same families (even brothers) or clans fought against each other for different parties.[3] There were only two female candidates (Nyari Welly and Omem Deori) standing in the election. Neither was elected.[2]

Janata Party won 17 seats, compared to 8 seats for the PPA. Five seats were won by independents.[2] Following the election, a five-member cabinet was sworn in on 14 March 1978, headed by Janata Party leader Prem Khandu Thungan as Chief Minister.[1][4] Other ministers were Gegong Apang, Tadar Tang, Soben Tayang and Nokme.[1] The newly elected assembly held its first session in Itanagar on 21 March 1978.[5] Three members were nominated by the Governor to sit in the Assembly, amongst them was one woman (Sibo Kai).[6][7]

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Janata Party66,90642.0817New
People's Party of Arunachal48,07530.248New
Indian National Congress7200.450New
Independents43,28727.235New
Total158,988100.0030New
Valid votes158,98896.60
Invalid/blank votes5,5993.40
Total votes164,587100.00
Registered voters/turnout224,83973.20
Source: ECI[2]

Results by constituency

  • Winner, runner-up, voter turnout, and victory margin in every constituency[8]
Assembly Constituency Turnout Winner Runner Up Margin
#k Names % Candidate Party Votes % Candidate Party Votes %
1 Tawang-I 74.50% Karma Wangchu Independent 2,313 65.17% Tashi Lama JP 1,236 34.83% 1,077
2 Tawang-II 76.92% Tashi Khandu Independent 1,874 53.39% Tsering Tashi JP 1,636 46.61% 238
3 Dirang–Kalaktang - Prem Khandu Thungon JP Elected Unopposed
4 Bomdila 75.69% Rinchin Kharu JP 2,734 73.49% Dorjee Tsering Independent 986 26.51% 1,748
5 Seppa 62.06% Donglo Sonam JP 4,232 65.28% Nyari Welly PPA 1,649 25.44% 2,583
6 Chayangtajo 64.33% Kameng Dolo JP 3,396 57.51% Tame Yangfo PPA 2,509 42.49% 887
7 Koloriang 67.31% Chera Talo JP 2,221 53.96% Lokam Tado PPA 1,895 46.04% 326
8 Nyapin-Palin 59.28% Tadar Tang JP 3,961 79.86% Tadar Taniang PPA 999 20.14% 2,962
9 Doimukh–Sagalee 80.72% Tara Sinda JP 2,149 32.61% Khoda Tana Independent 1,520 23.07% 629
10 Ziro–Hapoli 75.61% Padi Yubbe JP 4,529 44.80% Grati Takka Independent 2,014 19.92% 2,515
11 Riga-Tali 76.93% Nido Techi JP 3,539 55.00% Boa Tamo PPA 2,896 45.00% 643
12 Daporijo 87.07% Tadak Dulom JP 4,981 58.87% Tabom Nguba PPA 3,480 41.13% 1,501
13 Daksing-Taliha 72.15% Tara Payeng PPA 1,908 32.58% Pakda Mayeng Independent 1,776 30.32% 132
14 Mechuka 84.80% Tadik Chije Independent 1,903 47.79% Tapik Rinya PPA 1,119 28.10% 784
15 Along North 81.96% Lijum Ronya PPA 3,394 51.13% Talong Taggu Independent 1,868 28.14% 1,526
16 Along South 82.82% Boken Ette Independent 1,972 27.88% Tumpakete JP 1,504 21.26% 468
17 Basar 89.26% Tomo Riba PPA 4,109 59.93% Tadak Basar JP 2,747 40.07% 1,362
18 Palin 80.90% Sutem Tasung PPA 4,857 59.93% Tarung Pabia JP 1,906 23.52% 2,951
19 Yingkiong–Pangin 69.52% Geogong Apang JP 4,435 61.09% Tagang Taki Independent 2,825 38.91% 1,610
20 Meriang-Mebo 74.96% Onyok Rome PPA 3,717 59.94% Kabang Borang Independent 1,587 25.59% 2,130
21 Koloriang 44.49% Tade Tachc Independent 1,048 68.54% Mukut Mithi JP 330 21.58% 718
22 Roing 74.18% Aken Lego PPA 2,102 60.09% Gora Partin JP 930 26.59% 1,172
23 Nomsai–Chowkham 81.72% Chow Tewa Mien JP 4,542 41.99% Chau Khouk Manpoong PPA 3,036 28.07% 1,506
24 Tezu Hayuliang 66.02% Sobeng Tayeng JP 4,761 71.98% Yiasing Minin PPA 1,853 28.02% 2,908
25 Noadehing–Nampong 76.22% Jungpum Jugli PPA 1,209 34.58% Samchom Ngemu Independent 962 27.52% 247
26 Changlang 76.30% Tengam Ngemu JP 2,194 50.82% Nongcho PPA 1,643 38.06% 551
27 Khonsa South 75.98% Sijen Kongkang PPA 2,035 36.57% Wangpha Lowang JP 1,826 32.81% 209
28 Khonsa North 74.52% Nokmey Namati JP 1,866 36.65% Wanglat Lowangcha PPA 1,401 27.52% 465
29 Niausa–Kanubari - Noksong Boham JP Elected Unopposed
30 Pongchau-Wakka 30.67% Wnagnam Wangshu JP 1,344 59.63% Aching Independent 910 40.37% 434

References

  1. ^ a b c Kumar, Sudhir. Political and Administrative Setup of Union Territories in India. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 1991. pp. 115-116
  2. ^ a b c d e f Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1978 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH Archived 27 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c Shiv Lal. Elections Under the Janata Rule. New Delhi: Election Archives, 1978. p. 23
  4. ^ Karlo, Rejir. Emerging Pattern of Tribal Leadership in Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Commonwealth Publ, 2005. p. 34
  5. ^ Chowdhury, Jyotirindra Nath. Arunachal Pradesh, from Frontier Tracts to Union Territory. New Delhi: Cosmo, 1983. p. 365
  6. ^ Johsi, H. G. Arunachal Pradesh: Past and Present. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications, 2005. p. 123
  7. ^ Karna, M. N. Social Movements in North-East India. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co, 1998. p. 64
  8. ^ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1978 to the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2024.