The scheduled election in Williamnagar constituency was delayed to an undetermined date following the death of Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on 18 February 2018.

[2][3] The incumbent Indian National Congress government, led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, attempted to win re-election for the third consecutive time.

At the time of accession to the Independent India, these tribes were assured autonomy to make laws in and enforce local customs, management of land and forests.

From 1976, no political party has secured an absolute majority in the state assembly, with Indian National Congress forming coalition governments.

Official records suggest that while the state government did express apprehension in the wake of the nationalisation of coal, it never applied for an exemption.

[11] The state, in general turned a blind eye to the small-scale mining of coal, which had a huge impact on the ecology of the region, leading to the ban.

[12] The elections resulted in a hung assembly with no single party or alliance getting the requisite majority of 31 seats in the Vidhan Sabha.