SHILLONG, October 12: The Election Commission of India may notify the by-election to the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency any time after the publication of the final electoral roll on October 26, Chief Electoral Officer BDR Tiwari said on Monday, leaving the timing of the crucial parliamentary contest to the poll panel.
With the electoral roll revision nearing completion, attention has shifted to the Election Commission’s decision on when to hold the by-election to fill the vacancy in the Shillong parliamentary seat. Tiwari said the poll schedule would be determined and announced by the Election Commission of India after the final electoral roll is published, but did not indicate a specific date for the notification.
“As per schedule it will be decided and announced by the election commission of India . But it will be after the publication of final roll that will be 26th October it may be notified anytime by the Election Commission,” Tiwari said.
The by-election has been necessitated by the death of sitting Shillong MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon on February 19, 2026, creating a vacancy less than two years after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Syngkon, who represented the Voice of the People Party (VPP), had defeated Congress candidate Vincent H. Pala by a substantial margin, marking a significant electoral setback for the Congress in the constituency.
The impending contest is expected to draw attention to the political balance in Meghalaya, particularly the VPP’s electoral position following Syngkon’s victory and the Congress’s prospects of regaining ground in a constituency that has witnessed a significant shift in voter support.
On the statutory timeline for filling the vacancy, Tiwari said, “First it should be within six months and after that they can extend it and upper limit is immediately not given.”
The timing of the by-election will now depend on the Election Commission’s decision, with the publication of the final electoral roll on October 26 marking the next key milestone in the process.
