Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll: Two NEHU professors face off, university grants NOC
Synopsis
In a contest without easy parallel, two sitting professors from the same university will face each other for a Lok Sabha seat vacated by a third NEHU professor. The Shillong bypoll is shaping up as a uniquely academic political battle — and the Election Commission is yet to even announce the date.
Key Takeaways
NEHU granted NOCs to both faculty candidates at its 88th emergent Executive Council meeting on 30 July .
NPP nominee Dr D.R.L.
Nonglait (Department of Khasi) and VPP candidate Prof Batskhem Myrboh (Department of Political Science) will contest the bypoll.
The seat fell vacant after sitting MP Dr Ricky A.J.
Syngkon — also a former NEHU professor — died on 19 February .
Prof Myrboh had approached the Meghalaya High Court over an alleged delay in his NOC before the university acted.
The Shillong constituency spans 36 Assembly segments across Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills .
The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the bypoll date.
Two professors from North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) are set to contest against each other in the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll, after the university granted both candidates No Objection Certificates (NOCs) at its 88th emergent Executive Council meeting held on 30 July. The clearance removes the last administrative hurdle before what is shaping up to be an unusually academic electoral contest in Meghalaya.
The Two Candidates
The ruling National People's Party (NPP) has fielded Dr D.R.L. Nonglait of NEHU's Department of Khasi, while the opposition Voice of the People's Party (VPP) has nominated Prof Batskhem Myrboh from the university's Department of Political Science. Both are now free to campaign without administrative restriction, following official communication from the university's Joint Registrar confirming their clearances.
Why NEHU's NOC Became Contentious
The process was not without friction. Prof Myrboh had reportedly approached the Meghalaya High Court over an alleged delay in the issuance of his NOC. The university's decision to convene an emergent council meeting and approve both clearances on 30 July effectively resolved the dispute before it could escalate further.
The Unusual Academic Thread
What makes this bypoll particularly striking is the continuity of academic identity running through it. The election was necessitated by the death of sitting MP Dr Ricky A.J. Syngkon on 19 February this year — himself a former NEHU professor before entering electoral politics. That the outgoing parliamentarian and both principal contestants share ties with the same central university is, by most accounts, without recent precedent in Indian parliamentary history.
About the Constituency
The Shillong parliamentary constituency comprises 36 Assembly segments spread across the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills regions, and is considered one of Meghalaya's most politically significant seats. The seat has historically attracted high-profile contests and commands considerable influence over state politics.
What Happens Next
With nominations complete and statutory clearances in place, both candidates have intensified their campaigns across the constituency. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the bypoll date. Once the schedule is declared, the contest between the two NEHU colleagues will move from the corridors of academia into full electoral mode.
Point of View
Riding opposition momentum, can convert Prof Myrboh's academic credibility into a seat the NPP currently holds. The High Court episode over the NOC delay also signals that even procedural steps in this bypoll will be closely scrutinised — a sign of how much is at stake for both parties in a constituency that shapes Meghalaya's political direction.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll being held?
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting MP Dr Ricky A.J. Syngkon on 19 February this year. Syngkon had served as a professor at NEHU before entering electoral politics.
Who are the main candidates in the Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll?
The two principal candidates are Dr D.R.L. Nonglait of NEHU's Department of Khasi, fielded by the ruling National People's Party (NPP), and Prof Batskhem Myrboh from the Department of Political Science, nominated by the opposition Voice of the People's Party (VPP).
What is the significance of NEHU granting NOCs to both candidates?
The NOCs, approved at NEHU's 88th emergent Executive Council meeting on 30 July, allow both faculty members to contest the parliamentary bypoll without administrative impediment. Prof Myrboh had reportedly moved the Meghalaya High Court over an alleged delay before the clearance was issued.
When will the Shillong bypoll take place?
The Election Commission of India has not yet announced the date of the Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll. Both candidates have begun campaigning across the constituency's 36 Assembly segments.
What makes the Shillong bypoll historically unusual?
All three principal figures connected to the seat — the late MP Dr Ricky A.J. Syngkon and both main candidates — are or were professors at NEHU, making this a rare instance in Indian parliamentary history where a single academic institution is so centrally linked to a Lok Sabha contest.
