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Congress eyes comeback in Shillong Lok Sabha seat
Meghalaya Congress approved Vincent H. Pala as its Shillong Lok Sabha by-election candidate after the seat fell vacant due to the death of MP Ricky Syngkon. The by-election is expected by August, with VPP and NPP naming their candidates and UDP and BJP undecided about contesting.
Timeline
8 Events
UDP and BJP undecided on contesting by-election
May 15, 2026
Two other parties, the United Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party, had not yet decided whether to contest the by-election.
By-election for Shillong seat expected by August; schedule awaiting Election Commission
May 15, 2026
Chief Electoral Officer B.D.R. Tiwari said the department was prepared and waiting for the schedule to be announced by the Election Commission; the by-election is expected by August.
NPP nominates D.R.L. Nonglait for Shillong seat
May 14, 2026
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s National People’s Party nominated scholar and president of the Khasi Authors’ Society, D.R.L. Nonglait, for the Shillong by-election.
VPP nominates Batskhem Myrboh as its Shillong candidate
May 14, 2026
The Voice of the People Party named academician Batskhem Myrboh as its candidate for the Shillong constituency.
Meghalaya Congress approves Vincent H. Pala as Shillong by-election candidate
May 14, 2026
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee approved Vincent H. Pala, the party president, as its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election.
Death of Shillong MP Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon
February 19, 2026
Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon died after collapsing while playing football on the outskirts of Shillong, triggering a vacancy in the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.
Congress loses Shillong seat in 2024 elections
2024
In the 2024 general elections, Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party defeated Vincent H. Pala by a margin of over 3.71 lakh votes.
Congress begins 26-year hold on Shillong Lok Sabha seat
1998
Congress began holding the Shillong Lok Sabha seat in 1998, marking the start of a 26-year period of representation that continued until 2024.