Meghalaya being one of the youngest states in the country, attained statehood during the regime of the Congress under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Congress party thereby gained popularity specially when Captain Williamson Sangma, Chief Minister and leader of the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), which spearheaded the separate Hill State Movement, joined the Congress along with his followers, but was not supported by other APHLC leaders including Brington Buhai lyngdoh which brought about a split in the APHLC.

However, the Congress gained control in the governance of the state with the alliance of other likeminded regional parties which led to the formation of coalition governments. The Congress being in power in New Delhi, was able to hold on in Meghalaya and also in otherstates of the North Eastern region, except for Tripura which is under full control of the left Communist Party of India (CPI – Marxist). This therefore was the scenario of the dominance of the Congress in Meghalaya and the North Eastern region.

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