The year 2023 will be remembered as a path breaking year for Meghalaya. The year began with what Meghalaya loves best — politics and elections. The NPP-led MDA coalition came to power under Conrad Sangma for a second time but not before some high drama. 2023 will be remembered as the year of controversy, corruption, coal nexus, traffic congestion, concerns over railways and language recognition issues.
The elections saw the rise of a new political entity — Voice of the people Party — led by firebrand politician Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit. The VPP’s clout was evident during the hungerstrike called by its supremo, demanding a review of the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy, 1972. The government succumbed and agreed to the constitution of an expert committee to examine the quota policy. The NEP issue and the attack on the CM’s Secretariat in Tura were some of the other major events that made it to the headlines in 2023.
The much touted border MoU signed between Meghalaya and Assam last year continues to hang fire, the peace talks with the HNLC has gone cold, the demand for ILP or MRSSA continues to linger, the recognition for Khasi and Garo languages is nowehere in sight, and the power scenario remains questionable.
As Meghalaya heads into 2024, the citizens wait with hope and anticipation of better governance and better future for the state and themselves.
Here are some of the top headlines of 2023…
Jan 5
Conrad Sangma inaugurates long-awaited Ganol Project
Jan 7
Apex Court halts Meghalaya’s HC stay order on border MoU
Jan 11
Three coal miners reported dead; probe underway
Two children killed in Mawbah fire
Jan 12
Headmen confirm three deaths in EJH villages
Jan 15
Shillong-Delhi flight service: MTC signs deal with spice jet
Meghalaya gets its first women commando unit
Jan 16
Govt allot 50 acres of land for Shillong Medical College and Hospital
Jan 19
Huge rally greets Mamata in Garo Hills
Jan 23
Over Rs 10 lakh cash seized in EJH
Jan 26
Padma Shri honour for Duitara maker, musician Risingbor Kurkalang
Feb 1
Ampareen downplays CBI case against her
Feb 2
HC pulls up state govt on illegal coke units in WKH
Feb 3
In a first, BJP to contest all 60 seats in Meghalaya
Feb 8
379 candidates file papers
Ex-DHS clueless on ‘inflated’ COVID expense of Rs 816 crore
Feb 10
Pala richest with Rs 93 crore, Metbah second in assets
Feb 13
Phagu Chauhan to take charge as Meghalaya Governor
Feb 17
Meghalaya is corrupt No. 1 in country: Amit Shah
Feb 19
Jolts to PM’s Tura rally over stadium
Feb 21
CM denies hand in obstructing PM’s Tura rally
Feb 25
PM takes ATM jibe at Conrad, Mukul
Feb 26
High-voltage poll campaign ends
Feb 27
Voters to seal fate of 369 candidates
Feb 28
NPP ahead in exit polls, MDA 2.0 likely
March 1
NPP hopes for absolute majority
March 2
Delina Khongdup named member of National Commission for Women
March 3
Assembly polls: Ecstasy for NPP-UDP, dismay for TMC & UDP
March 5
Deck clear for Conrad to take over as chief minister
March 6
NPP gets lion’s share in MDA 2.0 Cabinet (NPP-8, UDP-2, and HSPDP-1)
March 8
Conrad takes oath as CM for second straight term
Prestone Tynsong, Sniawbhalang Dhar appointed as Deputy CMs
March 10
Ex-speaker Metbah Lyngdoh to head State Planning Board
March 12
Opp in disarray over LO status
March 14
Meghalaya gets flood relief of Rs 47.326 crore
March 17
TMC leaves LoP choice on Speaker
March 19
VPP hits out at regional parties for betrayal
Centre extends CUET exemption to NEHU, others by another year
March 21
Tumultuous start to maiden Budget session of MDA 2.0
VPP MLAs stage walkout over Governor’s speech in Hindi
March 22
Govt not inactive on illegal coal trade, over 2,000 cases filed: CM
March 23
Opp slams MDA for ceding 18 sq km of land to Assam
March 24
MDA 2.0 mulls $10 bn economy by 2028
Conrad presents Rs 1,592 crore deficit budget
March 28
Retrospective roster system an Achilles heel for govt
March 29
CAG raps six departments over missing UCs for Rs 2,275
April 1
JJM: M’laya gets additional grant-in-aid of Rs 299.24 cr
April 2
Irregular submission of accounts draws CAG flak
April 3
Congress warns MDA govt not to fall into ‘debt trap’
April 4
Women’s body seeks representation in Dorbar Shnong, moves KHADC
April 6
No respite from power woes
April 9
Shillong gears up for G20
April 10
Govt to set up agency for procurement of drugs
April 11
Cabinet to discuss roster system
April 12
HC refuses to exonerate govt of complicity in coal illegalities
April 14
HC directs MHA to deploy ten companies of CAPF
April 15
DGP defends police on HC charge of coal illegalities
Two dead, nine hurt as boulder flattens vehicles on Shillong-Dawki highway
April 17
Roster row: VPP to hold public rally in city
April 18
Conrad seeks consensus as VPP takes roster to streets
HC orders govt to list steps taken to combat traffic jams
April 19
Pressure grows on CM to take call on roster system
Heatwave in state: Schools shut for three days in parts of Garo Hills
April 20
MeECL drains its accounts in dealing with power cuts
April 21
Job quota: VPP threatens to launch ‘direct action’
Harijan committee rejects govt relocation blueprint
April 23
Load-shedding will not end soon: Govt
Water crisis in city grips many localities; review meeting soon
April 24
District councils to hold crucial meeting today on Sixth Schedule amendment, ST status, Uniform Civil Code
April 26
Govt unrelenting on Harijan issue
April 27
Garo Hills groups stand firm on status quo on job roster
April 28
ST certificate: KHADC stand may go to court
April 29
VPP renews vow to fight graft, misuse of power
May 2
UDP dubs NPP’s ouster jibe as ‘poll gimmick’
May 3
PDF to formally merge with NPP on May 6
May 4
HC orders CBI probe into 2015 WGH ‘encounter’
May 5
Manipur on the boil: Govt moves to evacuate students
May 6
HC directs govt, MeECL to list steps to end power cuts
May 7
PDF, NPP ‘wed’ after five-year romance
May 9
VPP to march to Secretariat on May 12 over roster issue
May 10
3 BSF men arrested for gunning down trucker
May 11
Sohiong records 91.92% polling (UDP hopeful, NPP confident)
May 12
8 hours of load-shedding in Shillong, Tura; 10 hours in rest of state
May 13
VPP’s 48-hr ultimatum to govt to put on hold all recruitment
May 14
UDP wins in Sohiong; no threat to MDA 2.0
May 16
High Court questions govt on its failure on the illegal coal front
May 17
Govt calls MDA, all-party meetings on roster issue
May 19
CM says roster meant for implementing job policy
May 23
Roster issue: Ardent to start indefinite hunger strike today
May 25
Govt unmoved; Ardent to carry on hunger strike
Border talks 2.0 begins; states refrain from setting resolution timeframe
May 27
Ardent seeks quota review for ending hunger strike
SSLC, HSSLC (Arts) results: Tura, Thadlaskein top lists
May 29
NPP-UDP on collision over reservation issue
June 1
Govt stops all recruitment
June 2
‘Victorious’ Ardent ends 10-day fast
National Education Policy a nonstarter in Meghalaya
June 3
Prioritise jobs creation over reservation: Cong to govt
KHADC directive against change of clan, surname
June 4
Chief Minister assuages Garos on roster system
June 5
Cabinet to decide on ambit of job quota review panel
June 6
Paul slams VPP for politics of hatred
BJP confirms Mukul move to don saffron
June 7
Govt spends Rs 3 crore daily to meet state’s power needs
June 8
Harijans blink; agree to govt’s relocation plan
June 9
Coal inaction due to manpower crisis: Govt
Congress’ Ronnie V Lyngdoh named as Opposition leader
June 10
Paul denies shielding Kyrmen on rice ‘scam’
June 11
UDP rues dependence on doles from Centre
June 12
State secondary-level dropout rate highest in India at 21.7%
June 13
No reason to review quota policy: Garo body to CM
June 14
Officials’ nonchalance over revenue leakage irks PAC
June 15
Opp calls 100 days of MDA 2.0 ‘faltering’
June 16
HPC denies agreeing to relocation blueprint
Cheristerfield’s killing: Family moves High Court, pleads for CBI inquiry
June 18
Five including two minors, killed as landslides, flash floods wreak havoc in state
June 19
Death toll rises to nine in rain-fuelled disaster in state
June 20
NPP, Congress come together to topple UDP-led EC in KHADC
Govt continues to draw HC’s ire over mining illegalities
June 21
Will NPP jettison UDP?
June 22
Congress ready to join MDA 2.0 if BJP is out
June 23
Tynsong engineered KHADC coup: UDP
June 24
No room for Cong in MDA: Dy CM Tynsong
CM plays down Tura stadium collapse incident
June 25
KHADC resolution says ‘no to UCC’
KSU revives ILP issue
June 26
NPP tells UDP not to whine about losing out in KHADC
June 27
Now, drones to be deployed to regulate traffic in city
Panels to examine demand for 15% quota for other STs
June 28
HC seeks to hunt down those behind coal racket
Garos from outside made ineligible for jobs in state
June 30
Centre’s UCC push raises concern over Sixth Schedule
July 1
$10 bn economy dream: Meghalaya launches Tourism Policy 2023
July 3
Conrad’s anti-Uniform Civil Code cry echoes with BJP allies in Northeast
July 5
HNYM arms villagers with bows and arrows
HC wants CBI to probe illegal mining, transportation of coal in Meghalaya
July 6
Expert committee remains elusive; VPP knuckles govt on reservation policy
HC raps govt over power outage
July 7
Illegal coal mining in M’laya unstoppable, concedes CM
Move to divert railways project to JH gets JSU thumbs down
July 8
Drunken brawl at Laitumkhrah, mob torches vehicles inside PS
‘No ILP, no railway’ cry echoes in Jaintia Hills
July 9
M’laya ranks at bottom of education ladder
July 10
Govt dismantles illegal coke plant in WKH
July 12
UNPRECEDENTED: Attack on Cabinet min
Shillong unsafe, admits govt
July 14
‘Take help of Assam Police to curb nexus’ (HC on coal, coke illegalities in state)
July 15
Conrad & team to press Centre for ILP, MRSSA
Govt constitutes Education commission
July 18
Fast over Winter Capital in Tura gathers steam
July 19
Niti Aayog names M’laya poorest state after Bihar
July 20
NEHU introduces 4-yr course in undergraduate programmes
July 21
Railways in state only if people want: CM
July 22
Police Commissionerate in city handle law and order: CM
July 24
Opposition to NEP gathers momentum
July 25
MOB MAYHEM IN TURA
(5 policemen injured after crowd attacks Mini Secretariat; CM, PHE minister stuck inside CMO office; Night curfew in Tura)
July 26
Tura Mayhem: 13 TMC leaders, 8 BJP workers in police custody
July 27
Tura Mayhem: Social activist among 20 more arrested for inciting mob
July 28
Bernard accuses NPP govt of ‘witch-hunt’ against rivals
No coal mined in M’laya in 5 yrs: Union Minister tells Lok Sabha
July 31
MCTA-NEHU on collision course over NEP
Aug 1
College teachers adamant on boycott of classes today
Aug 2
Students in a fix as MCTA launches stir against NEP
Aug 3
Corruption: Lokayukta chargesheets NPP legislator, ex-GHADC members
Aug 8
NEP row: MCTA seeks talks with NEHU, govt
Aug 9
CM-led team meets PM, seeks ILP in Meghalaya
Aug 10
Modi says he will examine Meghalaya’s ILP demand
Aug 12
Fewer foreign trips for M’laya officials now
Aug 13
With Metbah re-elected as prez, UDP zeroes in on ILP
Aug 14
‘PM’s assurance on ILP, Khasi language vacuous’
Aug 17
Govt pursuing mechanisms to address issue of influx: CM
State police busts newly-floated terror outfit; 7 cadres in custody
Aug 19
MCTA defiant; teachers take classes using 3-year syllabus
Aug 20
Living standards in M’laya lowest: Data
Aug 22
CBI takes over probe into 2015 Garo Hills ‘encounter’ killing
Aug 25
Violence mars public hearing in EJH; nine cops among several hurt
Aug 26
Retired HC judge-led panel to review job quota policy
Aug 30
Official apathy renders oxygen plants across GH non-functional
Aug 31
Assembly building project cost escalates to Rs 200 crore
Sep 3
UDP supports one nation, one election
Sep 4
Rectify MBBS list or face action: KSU
HNLC threatens to quit peace talks
Sep 5
HITO, police clash: 10 held
Sep 7
Meghalaya BJP in choppy waters (Shangpliang hurls ‘nepotism’ charge on Mawrie, quits party)
India vs Bharat debate sets tongues wagging
Sep 9
Call Academic Council meet or quit: HYC to NEHU VC
Sep 12
NEHU not recall NEP order; MCTA to continue agitation
Sep 13
Govt scraps two more power project pacts
Sep 14
Conrad, Himanta upbeat about border resolution
Sep 15
Opp parties in disarray before Assembly session
Sep 17
UDP seeks clarity on MRSSA status
Sep 18
KSU pushes for Art 371 A along with ILP, MRSSA
Traffic congestion: Woman delivers inside vehicle, infant dies
Sep 20
Conrad trashes Mukul’s claim of nexus with drug kingpin
Sep 22
Paul confirms worst fear, says drug trafficking up in state
Sep 23
CAG report ‘hints’ at Saubhagya scam
Sep 25
Meghalaya’s inflation rate highest in India
Sep 26
BJP leadership removes ‘controversial’ Earnest Mawrie
Sep 28
Strict vigil in Lapangap after cross-border clash
Whistling away to glory: Kongthong wins ‘Best Tourism Village’ award
Oct 1
Meghalaya and Assam on the verge of finalising borders in 6 areas
Language demand finds voice in Delhi
Oct 2
Govt treating cops guarding border like orphans: MDC
Oct 4
Beware: Most city tap water not potable!
Oct 6
HC pillories NHAI for leaving NH-6 in ruins
PHED to monitor quality of water (Supply of ‘contaminated’ water in city)
Oct 7
Denied salary for 31 months, GHADC staff on ‘warpath’
26 students from state stuck in Sikkim, helpline activated
Oct 8
27 from Meghalaya stuck in Jerusalem (Israel-Palestine War)
Oct 9
All 27 Meghalaya pilgrims safely cross over to Egypt (Gaza war)
‘Donations’ sucking shopkeepers dry in city
Oct 11
Govt in no mood to drop railways idea
Senior state bureaucrat Dr Manjunatha dies by ‘heart attack’
Oct 14
NEHU Tura ragging case: Naga student stripped, forced to dance
Oct 15
Blaze in Police Bazar brings life to a standstill in city
Kharlukhi to step down as NPP state president
Oct 17
UDP members behind ‘tax’ collection: KHADC chief
Oct 18
UDP seeks evidence from NPP on toll gate ‘racket’
Oct 19
Govt to bail out broke MePDCL
Oct 26
NEHU VC blinks, Academic Council to meet today (NEP row)
Oct 27
End of tussle” Academic Council gives nod to NEP
Oct 28
Govt to recruit 1500 teachers before December
Mathematics likely to become compulsory at secondary level
Oct 31
Mandatory registration under MRSSA begins
Nov 1
Prestone Tynsong takes over as NPP state chief
Water supplied by PHED safe for public: Minister
Nov 4
HANM protests in Delhi for ILP, language recognition
Nov 6
MDA Govt has ‘mortgaged’ state to contractors: TMC
Nov 8
Meghalaya demands special power package from PM
Nov 11
State govt likely to adopt modified NCERT books
Nov 12
Ex-HYC chief joins UDP, wants to contest Shillong LS seat
Nov 15
Govt invites HNLC top guns for tripartite talks
Nov 16
Centre no to ‘entry-exit’ gates in MRSSA: Dy CM
Nov 17
All’s not well with state’s educations sector: CM
Mukroh case set to be handed over to CBI
Nov 19
LS polls: NPP likely to give Shillong ticket to Ampareen
Nov 21
NEHU official faces molestation charge
Nov 22
Field visit report alarming: HC on illegal coal mining
Nov 23
Justice Katakey’s interim report belies govt’s claims
Nov 25
LS polls: NPP announces all-women candidates
Nov 26
State police busts fuel theft, adulteration racket on NH-6
Nov 28
Petrol workers to stop supply to Meghalaya
Mukul’s move to BJP depends on Himanta
MHA writes to HANM on language, ILP demand
Nov 30
Survey may have missed out 13 lakh MT of coal: Conrad
Dec 1
Govt working on modified plan to relocate Harijans
Dec 3
George Lyngdoh quits a TMC vice-president
Dec 4
TMC in trouble as captain Mukul looks to desert ship
Move to adopt NCERT textbooks ridiculous
Dec 5
Govt apathy, harassment by youth delay road projects
GI tag to Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric
Dec 6
Use to tobacco highest among schoolchildren in state at 96.4%
Dec 7
HC summons EJH SP over reports of illegal coal mining
Dec 13
Katakey-led panel picks holes in DC’s report on coal
KSU demands relocation of only 184 families from Harijan Colony
Dec 15
Power-starved Meghalaya gets award for energy efficiency
Dec 16
From fields to fortune: Meghalaya farmers showcase Khasi Mandarin in Bengaluru
Dec 19
Meghalaya has third-highest dropout rate in Class 10
Dec 20
End of the road for MCCL
Dec 21
KHADC demands ST rights for indigenous tribes only
Govt acts on HC order, shifts EJH SP to Ri-Bhoi
Dec 22
Govt moves SC against HC ruling on teachers engaging in politics
Dec 27
Water supplied in Meghalaya contains arsenic and fluoride
NGT sends notice to state govt
Dec 28
UDP likely to lose more MDCs to NPP in KHADC
Dec 29
Govt can’t say no to everything: UDP wants goods trains
(Concluded)
