AliciaPaschall at 14:20, 22 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh
| image = Ampareen Lyngdoh (cropped).jpg
| imagesize = 180
| caption = Official portrait
| office = [[Cabinet Minister]], [[Government of Meghalaya]]
| termstart = 7 March 2023
| termend = 16 September 2025
| 1namedata = [[Conrad Sangma]]
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 2blankname = Portfolios
| 2namedata = {{bulleted list|Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare|Health and Family Welfare|Information and Public Relations|Law}}
| predecessor = {{ubl|[[Banteidor Lyngdoh]] {{small|(Agriculture)}}|[[Prestone Tynsong]] {{small|(Health)}}|[[James Sangma]] {{small|(Information, Law)}}}}
| successor = {{ubl|[[Timothy Shira]] {{small|(Agriculture)}}|[[Wailadmiki Shylla]] {{small|(Health)}}|[[Lahkmen Rymbui]] {{small|(Information, Law)}}}}
| termstart1 = 12 March 2013
| termend1 = 6 March 2018
| 1namedata1 = [[Mukul Sangma]]
| 1blankname1 = Chief Minister
| 2blankname1 = Portfolios
| 2namedata1 = {{bulleted list|Labour|Urban Affairs, Municipal Administration {{small|(until 2016)}}|Public Works Department (Buildings) {{small|(from 2016)}}}}
| termstart2 = 24 April 2010
| termend2 = 1 March 2013
| 1namedata2 = [[Mukul Sangma]]
| 1blankname2 = Chief Minister
| 2blankname2 = Portfolios
| 2namedata2 = {{bulleted list|School Education and Literacy {{small|(until 2011)}}|Higher and Technical Education {{small|(until 2011)}}|Science and Technology {{small|(from 2011)}}|Urban Affairs {{small|(from 2011)}}|Municipal Administration and Housing {{small|(from 2011)}}}}
| termstart3 = 13 May 2009
| termend3 = 19 April 2010
| 1namedata3 = [[D. D. Lapang]]
| 1blankname3 = Chief Minister
| 2blankname3 = Portfolios
| 2namedata3 = {{bulleted list|Elementary and Mass Education|Higher and Technical Education|Printing and Stationery}}

| office4 = [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly|Member, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency4 = [[East Shillong Assembly constituency|East Shillong]]
| term_start4 = 2013
| predecessor4 = ''Constituency established''
| constituency5 = [[Laitumkhrah Assembly constituency|Laitumkhrah]]
| termstart5 = 2008
| termend5 = 2013
| predecessor5 = Robert Garnett Lyngdoh
| successor5 = ''Constituency abolished''

| nationality = Indian
| party = [[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]] (2022-present)
| otherparty = {{ubl|[[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]] (2008–2009)|[[Indian National Congress]] (2009{{ndash}}2022)}}
| parents = {{ubl|[[Peter G. Marbaniang]]|Q.E. Lyngdoh}}
| children = {{ubl|Grazel Lyngdoh|Jade Lyngdoh|Kyra Lyngdoh}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|5|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Shillong]], India
| residence = [[Laitumkhrah]], [[Shillong]]
| occupation = [[Politician]], former [[lecturer]]
| education = [[Bachelor of Arts]], [[Jesus and Mary College]] [[Master of Arts]], [[Jamia Millia Islamia]] [[Ph.D.]], [[North Eastern Hill University]].
| alma_mater = Loreto Convent, Shillong [[Jesus & Mary College]], [[University of Delhi]] [[Jamia Milia Islamia]] [[North Eastern Hill University]] (Ph.D)
| spouse = Fantin Joseph Lakadong
}}
'''Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh''' (born 5 May 1965) is an Indian politician who has served as a [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member of the Legislative Assembly]] from the Indian state of [[Meghalaya]] since 2008. She is currently serving as Adviser to the [[Government of Meghalaya]]. She also served as a Cabinet Minister in the State Government of [[Meghalaya]] from 2023 to 2025.

She was previously a [[Cabinet Minister]] in the [[Government of Meghalaya]] for Labour Affairs, Information Technology, Information & Broadcasting, Housing, Urban Development Affairs, and Housing from 2013 to 2018; and Minister for Education from 2009 to 2013.

Until August 2021, she served as a Secretary of the [[All India Congress Committee]], in charge of the state of [[Mizoram]]. She served as the working president of the Indian National Congress in the state of Meghalaya until 2022.

She was the sole female member of the house in the 60 member [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] from 2008 to 2013. Prior to joining active politics, she was a [[lecturer]] at St. Anthony's College, Shillong, where she taught mass communication.

== Early life and family ==

Ampareen Lyngdoh was born in [[Shillong]]. She is the daughter of [[Peter G. Marbaniang]] and Q. E Lyngdoh. Her father was a [[Member of Parliament]] and [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of the [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130131/jsp/northeast/story_16501949.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125219/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130131/jsp/northeast/story_16501949.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |title=...Ampareen keeps norm, files papers |author=Andrew W. Lyngdoh |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=Kolkata |date=31 January 2013 }}</ref> Her brother, Robert Garnett Lyngdoh was a member of the [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] who also served as the [[Home affairs|Home]] Minister in the [[Government of Meghalaya]].

She is married and has three children.

== Education ==

Lyngdoh completed her school education at the Loreto Convent, Shillong.

She pursued her undergraduate degree in English at the [[Jesus and Mary College]] at the [[University of Delhi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jmc.ac.in/docs/ssr-upload.pdf |title=Self-study report 2014 |publisher=Jesus & Mary College |access-date=22 October 2015 }}</ref> She graduated from [[Jamia Milia Islamia]] University in 1990 with a master's degree in Mass Communication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ceomeghalaya.nic.in/electionconducted/mla-bye-election/2009/17-laitumkhrah/affidavits/ampareenlyngdoh_assets-liabilities.pdf|title=Election Affidavit}}</ref>

In 2013, Lyngdoh earned a [[Ph.D.]] from the [[North Eastern Hill University]]. The title of her thesis was ''Influence of Media on Public Opinion During The Periods of Social Unrest: A Study of Meghalaya''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nehu.ac.in/Schools/Economics%20&%20Management/Library%20Science/PH.php |title=Department of Library & Information Science: Dr. P. Hangsing |publisher=North-Eastern Hill University |access-date=22 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110122151/http://www.nehu.ac.in/Schools/Economics%20%26%20Management/Library%20Science/PH.php |archive-date=10 November 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Early career ==

Lyngdoh was a professor of Mass Communications at St. Anthony's College, Shillong where she was the head of the Department of Mass Communication.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shillong/meghalayas-tech-savvy-neta-has-her-feet-on-the-ground/articleshow/62880706.cms|title=Meghalaya's tech-savvy neta has her feet on the ground|date=February 12, 2018|work=Times of India}}</ref>

== Political career ==
She started her political career as a member of the [[Indian Youth Congress]], and was closely involved in the election campaigns of her father, [[Peter G. Marbaniang]] and her brother Robert G. Lyngdoh before joining active politics. They were both leaders of the [[Indian National Congress]].

[[File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee with the Speaker, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Shri A.T. Mondal alongwith a delegation of Ministers & MLAs from Meghalaya, in New Delhi on May 01, 2013.jpg|thumb|President Shri Pranab Mukherjee with the Speaker, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Shri A.T. Mondal and Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister, Government of Meghalaya along with MLAs from Meghalaya, in New Delhi on May 01, 2013]]

=== United Democratic Party ===
Lyngdoh briefly joined the [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]] (UDP) in 2008 after the [[Indian National Congress]] refused to give her a ticket to contest the 2008 state Assembly elections.<ref name="Telegraph_jibe_2009">{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090725/jsp/northeast/story_11278838.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123210/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090725/jsp/northeast/story_11278838.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=Pre-poll jibe at Ampareen's flip-flop|date=25 July 2009|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=Kolkata}}</ref>

When the United Democratic Party gave her an election ticket, 44 members of the party resigned in protest because her brother Robert G Lyngdoh was a Congress [[legislator]] and the state's minister for education at that time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/ticket-to-cong-mla-s-sister-forces-exodus-from-udp/238946/0|title=Ticket to Cong MLA's sister forces exodus from UDP|date=14 November 2007|newspaper=Indian Express}}</ref>

As a candidate from the United Democratic Party, Lyngdoh won the [[2013 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|2008 state assembly elections]] from the [[Laitumkhrah]] constituency, a stronghold of her family from which her father and her brother had been elected earlier to become the only woman [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] in the 8th [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]. She defeated Malcom B Tariang, who fought the election as an independent candidate.<ref name="rediff_by_2009">{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/aug/21/cong-wins-meghalaya-by-poll-bjp-wins-ktaka-seat.htm|title=Cong wins Meghalaya by-poll, humbled in K'taka|date=21 August 2009|work=rediff.com}}</ref>

=== Re-joining the Indian National Congress and subsequent suspension ===
Lyngdoh met [[Indian National Congress]] President [[Sonia Gandhi]] in New Delhi, after which she resigned from the [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]] and the [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] on 31 March 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/UDP-MLA-Ampareen-Lyngdoh-quits/articleshow/4347101.cms|title=UDP MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh quits|date=2 April 2009|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

She re-joined the Congress, her party rewarding her by making her the state's minister for education, although she was no longer a legislator.<ref name="Telegraph_jibe_2009" /> Her resignation from the Assembly resulted in a [[by-election]], which she won in August 2009. Once again, she defeated Tariang, who fought as a UDP candidate this time.<ref name="rediff_by_2009" />

She was the only female legislator in the Meghalaya Assembly from 2008 to 2013.<ref name="rediff_by_2009" /><ref name="TH_retains_2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/poll-results-congress-retains-power-in-meghalaya/article4462477.ece|title=Poll Results: Congress retains power in Meghalaya|date=28 February 2013|work=The Hindu Business Line}}</ref> During these five years, her assets increased by 9000%, from {{INR}} 23,518 to {{INR}} 2,100,000, according to the affidavits she submitted to the Election Commission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-12/news/37059046_1_crorepati-candidates-women-candidates-udp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305143905/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-02-12/news/37059046_1_crorepati-candidates-women-candidates-udp|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016|title=113 crorepatis in fray for Meghalaya polls|work=The Economic Times|access-date=12 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/60-of-MLAs-crorepatis-in-Meghalaya/articleshow/18787980.cms|title=60% of MLAs 'crorepatis' in Meghalaya|author=Manosh Das|date=4 March 2013|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

On 14 February 2022, Lyngdoh along with 4 other fellow Congress MLAs was suspended by the party for backing the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] allied [[National People's Party (India)|NPP]] state government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All 5 Meghalaya Congress MLAs face suspension for joining BJP-backed govt |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/feb/14/all-5-meghalaya-congress-mlas-face-suspension-for-joining-bjp-backed-govt-2419325.html |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

== Positions in the Indian National Congress ==

[[Indian National Congress]] President [[Rahul Gandhi]] appointed Lyngdoh a secretary of the [[All India Congress Committee]] in charge of [[Mizoram]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/india/rahul-appoints-9-new-aicc-secretaries/296410.html|title=Rahul Gandhi appoints new AICC secretaries}}</ref> ahead of the crucial state assembly election in 2018. She was appointed as the President of the Meghalaya chapter of the [[All India Professionals Congress]] in August, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2018/08/14/ampareen-to-head-state-unit-of-professionals-cong/|title=Ampareen to head state unit of Professionals' Cong|work=The Shillong Times|access-date=2018-09-14}}</ref>

In August 2021, she was appointed as the working president of the [[Indian National Congress]] in Meghalaya.

In February 2022, a group of 5 [[Indian National Congress]] MLAs led by Ampareen Lyngdoh gave their support to the [[Conrad Sangma]] [[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] backed government. This resulted in an expulsion of all five last remaining [[Indian National Congress]] MLAs.

== Positions in government ==
Lyngdoh has served as a [[Cabinet Minister (India)|Cabinet Minister]] in the state government, and during her first two terms as a Cabinet Minister, she held portfolios including Public Works Department, Information Technology, Information & Communication, Urban Development, Housing, Labour, Education and Tourism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110923/jsp/northeast/story_14541344.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213232/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110923/jsp/northeast/story_14541344.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title=Move to reduce slums in Shillong – Education minister sets 10-year target|date=23 September 2011|work=The Telegraph|location=Kolkata}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-06-04/news/27604111_1_education-minister-compulsory-education-education-act|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020100439/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-06-04/news/27604111_1_education-minister-compulsory-education-education-act|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2015|title=Right to Education by 2012: Meghalaya Education minister|date=4 June 2010|newspaper=Economic Times}}</ref> She was the Chairman of the Meghalaya Urban Development Agency while holding the Urban Development portfolio.

Following her re-election as a member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 2023, Lyngdoh was appointed as a Cabinet Minister in the [[Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (2003)|Meghalaya Democratic Alliance]] 2.0 Government, she served in this position till 2025. Later, she was appointed as the Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya.

== Assembly committees ==

Lyngdoh is the Chairperson of the Meghalaya Assembly [[Standing Committee]] for the Empowerment of Women and a member of the Assembly Committee for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}

== Legal issues ==

In 2017, the [[High Court of Meghalaya]] cancelled the appointment of 365 teachers who were appointed in Government lower primary schools after allegations of irregularities in the selection process which were conducted in 2010 when Lyngdoh was the state's minister for education purportedly involved many politicians from the state. The court also directed the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] to probe the "criminal aspect" of the irregularities that were alleged to have marked the selection process.<ref>{{cite news |title=In poll-bound Meghalaya, a seven-year-old recruitment controversy comes back to haunt the Congress |url=https://scroll.in/article/856953/in-poll-bound-meghalaya-a-seven-year-old-recruitment-controversy-come-back-to-haunt-the-congress}}</ref>

== Electoral record ==
In 2008 Lyngdoh contested the [[Laitumkhrah]] constituency as a UDP candidate, winning her first election to the state assembly.

In 2009 she contested the by-election in the Laitumkhrah constituency as an [[Indian National Congress]] candidate, winning again.

In 2013 she contested the East Shillong Constituency, defeating the UDP candidate and former [[Deputy Chief Minister]] Bindo M Lanong.<ref name="TH_retains_2013" />

In 2018 Lyngdoh contested the East Shillong Constituency, once again winning the seat with a 36% margin. Her nearest rival from the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] by over 6,000 votes. She also defeated former [[Deputy Chief Minister]] Bindo M Lanong of the UDP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS1516.htm?ac=16|title = Election Commission of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/info?stateac=44&eid=269|title=IndiaVotes AC: Meghalaya 2018|website=IndiaVotes|access-date=2019-08-13}}</ref>

She won in 2023, on a [[National People's Party (India)|National People's Party]] ticket defeating Indian National Congress candidate Manuel Badwar by 1,711 votes.
{| class="wikitable"
! Election
! Year
! Party
! Constituency
! Result
! Votes
! % votes
! Source
|-
| [[2008 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]
| 2008
| [[United Democratic Party (Meghalaya)|United Democratic Party]]
| rowspan=2|[[Laitumkhrah]]
| Won
| 3,775
| 34.10%
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/archive/March2008/pollupd/ac/states/S15/Partycomp17.htm |title=17 – Laitumkharah (ST) Assembly Constituency |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=22 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/summary/30139 |title=AC Summary: Laitumkharah 2008 Tweet |publisher=India Votes |access-date=22 October 2015 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]] ([[by-election]])
| 2009
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| Won
| 5,800
| 54.81%
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://ceomeghalaya.nic.in/election-history/bye-election-to-meghalaya-legislative-assembly/2009-17-laitumkhrah-bye-elections.pdf |title=Bye-Election to Legislative Assembly, August, 2009 |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=22 October 2015 }}</ref>
|-
| [[2013 Meghalaya Legislative Assembly election|Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]
| 2013
| [[Indian National Congress]]
| rowspan=3|[[East Shillong (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|East Shillong]]
| Won
| 10,103
| 62.9%
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/summary/33426 |title=AC Summary: East Shillong 2013 |publisher=India Votes |access-date=22 October 2015 }}</ref>
|-
|[[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]
|2018
|[[Indian National Congress]]
|Won
|10,368
| 61.4%
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/details/44/43279/269|title=IndiaVotes | India's largest election database}}</ref>
|-
|[[Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]
|2023
|[[National People's Party (India)]]
|Won
|6,636
| 39.56%
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/details/44/43279/269|title=IndiaVotes | India's largest election database}}</ref>
|-
|}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyngdoh, Ampareen}}
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Meghalaya]]
[[Category:People from Shillong]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:United Democratic Party (Meghalaya) politicians]]
[[Category:Meghalaya MLAs 2013–2018]]
[[Category:Meghalaya MLAs 2018–2023]]
[[Category:Jamia Millia Islamia alumni]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Meghalaya MLAs 2008–2013]]
[[Category:National People's Party (India) politicians]]
[[Category:Meghalaya MLAs 2023–2028]]
[[Category:Women members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly]]

Ampareen Lyngdoh - Revision history

AliciaPaschall at 14:20, 22 February 2026