Shillong: Two North Eastern Hill University professors are heading to the ballot box. They are set to face off in the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll. The university cleared both men to run. They received their No Objection Certificates after a push from the school's Executive Council.
The race features the National People’s Party nominee Dr. D.R.L. Nonglait from the Department of Khasi. He squares off against Voice of the People’s Party candidate Prof. Batskhem Myrboh from the Department of Political Science. The 88th emergent meeting of the NEHU Executive Council approved the certificates on July 30. A university official confirmed the decision on Monday.
This follows legal action. Prof. Myrboh moved to the Meghalaya High Court, claiming school brass sat on his paperwork. With the clearance in hand, the pair can now hit the campaign trail without red tape. The Election Commission of India has not set a date for the vote yet.
The bypoll was triggered by the February 19 death of sitting MP Dr. Ricky A.J. Syngkon. Like the current candidates, Syngkon was a former NEHU professor. This creates a strange cycle where the seat remains under academic control. The constituency covers 36 Assembly segments spanning the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. A senior official noted, "The NOCs were approved during the 88th emergent meeting of the NEHU Executive Council held on July 30."
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