Ampareen Lyngdoh
{{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
| office = Cabinet Minister, Government of Meghalaya{{Cite web |title=The Meghalayan Ampareen Lyngdoh allotted Agriculture, Health, Law & IPR portfolios 1 day ago|url=https://themeghalayan.com/ampareen-lyngdoh-allotted-agriculture-health-law-ipr-portfolios/}}
| predecessor =
| successor =
| governor = Phagu Chauhan
| 1blankname = Chief Minister
| 1namedata = Conrad Sangma
| subterm = Cabinet
| suboffice = Second Conrad Sangma ministry
| 2blankname = Ministry and Departments
| 2namedata = * Health and Family Welfare
- Law
- Information and Public Relations
- Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
| term_start = 7 March 2023
| office1 = Member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
| constituency1 = East Shillong
| term_start1 = 2013
| predecessor1 = Ampareen Lyngdoh
| office3 = Minister for Urban Development, Labour Affairs, Public Works Department, Labour Affairs, Government of Meghalaya
| term_start3 = 2013
| term_end3 = 2018
| office2 = Minister for Education, Government of Meghalaya
| term_start2 = 2009
| term_end2 = 2013
| constituency2 = Laitumkhrah
| term_start5 = 2008
| term_end5 = 2013
| nationality = Indian
| party = National People's Party (2022-present)
| otherparty = United Democratic Party (2008–2009)
Indian National Congress (until 2022)
| parents = Peter G. Marbaniang
Q.E. Lyngdoh
| children = 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
| legislature = Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
}}
Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh (born 5 May 1965) is an Indian politician who has served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Indian state of Meghalaya since 2008. She currently serves as a Cabinet Minister in the State Government of Meghalaya.
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 of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.{{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 }} Her brother, Robert Garnett Lyngdoh was a member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly who also served as the 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.{{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 }} She graduated from Jamia Milia Islamia University in 1990 with a master's degree in Mass Communication.{{Cite web|url=http://ceomeghalaya.nic.in/electionconducted/mla-bye-election/2009/17-laitumkhrah/affidavits/ampareenlyngdoh_assets-liabilities.pdf|title=Election Affidavit}}
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.{{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 }}
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.{{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}}
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.
= United Democratic Party =
Lyngdoh briefly joined the United Democratic Party (UDP) in 2008 after the Indian National Congress refused to give her a ticket to contest the 2008 state Assembly elections.{{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}}
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.{{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}}
As a candidate from the United Democratic Party, Lyngdoh won the 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 MLA in the 8th Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. She defeated Malcom B Tariang, who fought the election as an independent candidate.{{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}}
= Re-joining the Indian National Congress =
Lyngdoh met Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, after which she resigned from the United Democratic Party and the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on 31 March 2009.{{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}}
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. 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.
She was the only female legislator in the Meghalaya Assembly from 2008 to 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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}}
On 14 February 2022, Lyngdoh along with 4 other fellow Congress MLAs was suspended by the party for backing the BJP allied NPP state government.{{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}}
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{{Cite web|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/india/rahul-appoints-9-new-aicc-secretaries/296410.html|title=Rahul Gandhi appoints new AICC secretaries}} 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.{{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}}
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 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 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.{{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}}{{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}} 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 2.0 Government.
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.{{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}}
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.
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.{{Cite web|url=http://eciresults.nic.in/ConstituencywiseS1516.htm?ac=16|title = Election Commission of India}}{{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}}
| class="wikitable"
! Election ! Year ! Party ! Constituency ! Result ! Votes ! % votes ! Source |
| Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
| 2008 | rowspan=2|Laitumkhrah | Won | 3,775 | 34.10% | {{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 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.indiavotes.com/ac/summary/30139 |title=AC Summary: Laitumkharah 2008 Tweet |publisher=India Votes |access-date=22 October 2015 }} |
| Meghalaya Legislative Assembly (by-election)
| 2009 | Won | 5,800 | 54.81% |
| Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
| 2013 | rowspan=2|East Shillong | Won | 10,103 | 62.9% |
| Meghalaya Legislative Assembly
|2018 |Won |10,368 | 61.4% |
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyngdoh, Ampareen}}
Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Meghalaya
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:Meghalaya MLAs 2008–2013
Category:National People's Party (India) politicians
Category:Meghalaya MLAs 2023–2028
Category:Women members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly