1978 Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

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

There were 30 single-member constituencies at the time of the election, out of whom two were reserved for Scheduled Tribes. 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. The speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Nonemati, contested as a Janata Party candidate from Khonsa North constituency. 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).

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

Janata Party won 17 seats, compared to 8 seats for the PPA. 5 seats were won by independents. 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. Other ministers were Gegong Apang, Tadar Tang, Soben Tayang and Nokme. The newly elected assembly held its first session in Itanagar on 21 March 1978. Three members were nominated by the Governor to sit in the Assembly, amongst them was one woman (Sibo Kai).

Elected Members

Constituency	Reserved for (SC/ST/None)	Member	Party
Tawang-i	None	Karma Wangchu	Template:Full party name with color
Tawang - Ii	None	Tashi Khandu	Template:Full party name with color
Dirang Kalaktang	None	Prem Khandu Thungon (uncontested)	Template:Full party name with color
Bomdila	None	Rinchin Kharu	Template:Full party name with color
Seppa	None	Donglo Sonam	Template:Full party name with color
Chayangtajo	None	Kameng Dolo	Template:Full party name with color
Koloriang	None	Chera Talo	Template:Full party name with color
Nyapin Palin	None	Tadar Tang	Template:Full party name with color
Doimukh Sagalee	None	Tara Sinda	Template:Full party name with color
Ziro	None	Padi Yubbe	Template:Full party name with color
Raga-tali	None	Nido Techi	Template:Full party name with color
Daporijo	None	Tadak Dulom	Template:Full party name with color
Toksing Taliha	None	Tara Payeng	Template:Full party name with color
Mechuka	None	Tadik Chije	Template:Full party name with color
Along North	None	Lium Ronya	Template:Full party name with color
Along South	None	Boken Ette	Template:Full party name with color
Basar	None	Tomo Riba	Template:Full party name with color
Palin	ST	Sutem Tasung	Template:Full party name with color
Yingkiong Pangin	None	Gegong Apang	Template:Full party name with color
Mariyang Mebo	None	Onyok Rome	Template:Full party name with color
Koloriang	ST	Tade Tachc	Template:Full party name with color
Roing	None	Aken Lego	Template:Full party name with color
Nomsai Chowkham	None	Chow Tewa Mien	Template:Full party name with color
Tezu Hayuliang	None	Sobeng Tayeng	Template:Full party name with color
Noadehing Nampong	None	Jungpum Jugli	Template:Full party name with color
Changlang	None	Tengam	Template:Full party name with color
Khonsa South	None	Sijen Kongkang	Template:Full party name with color
Khonsa North	None	Nokmey Namati	Template:Full party name with color
Niausa Kanubari	None	Noksong Boham (uncontested)	Template:Full party name with color
Pongchau Wakka	None	Wnagnam Wangshu	Template:Full party name with color