Shillong, May 28: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Thursday announced senior lawyer V.G.K. Kynta as its candidate for the forthcoming by-election to the Shillong Parliamentary constituency, formally entering what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested multi-cornered electoral battle involving several of Meghalaya’s principal political parties even as the regional party faces murmurs of internal discontent over the candidate selection process.
The announcement was made by UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh in the presence of party legislators, MDCs and senior leaders after a meeting held at the party office in Shillong. The declaration comes amid allegations raised by Tirot Sing Suchiang, Secretary of the Shillong City District UDP, who wrote to the party president alleging that the “selection and finalisation” of the candidate was carried out without adequate consultation with party workers, particularly members of the Shillong City District, which he described as the “base” of the candidate.
With the UDP now officially in the fray, the by-election is expected to witness an intense contest among the Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) Batskhem Myrboh, National People’s Party’s (NPP) D.R.L. Nonglait, Congress candidate Vincent H. Pala and UDP nominee V.G.K. Kynta.
The bypoll has also exposed electoral divergences within the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), with alliance partners deciding to contest separately rather than arrive at a consensus candidate, paving the way for a multi-cornered contest in one of the State’s politically significant constituencies. So far, none of the political parties has fielded a woman candidate for the election.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also expected to field its nominee, with reports indicating that as many as nine aspirants are in the race for the party ticket, potentially adding another dimension to the electoral contest.
The by-election was necessitated following the demise of sitting Member of Parliament from the Shillong Parliamentary constituency, Ricky A.J. Syngkon, on February 19, 2026. The vacancy emerged less than two years after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in which the VPP leader had defeated Congress candidate Vincent H. Pala by a substantial margin.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Shillong, the UDP had fielded Robertjune Kharjahrin as its candidate. However, he finished fourth behind eventual winner Ricky A.J. Syngkon, Congress leader Vincent H. Pala and NPP candidate Ampareen Lyngdoh.
Explaining the party’s decision to field Kynta, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said, “We believe is that we have ensure that whatever candidates decided to field in this bye election, has to be the best among all the candidates.”
He said the party had been engaged in discussions over the past two months while also attempting to keep the Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) intact with the support of like-minded regional forces. “The discussion was on for the last two months to see that RDA is very much there and HSPDP as part of the RDA are very much in line with to ensure that the spirit of regionalism, spirit of our own people has to be there.”
Referring to the decision of other regional parties, Lyngdoh said, “But I will not say unfortunately but whatever decision they have taken till date that we leave it to them. But as a party, we have to move forward, it will be too late for us to wait for long as we have to visit, reached out to every constituency to introduce our candidate and but we still hope and would like to welcome with warm heart for all those like minded regional parties to come forward and give the support to our candidate.”
Seeking broader political backing beyond regional parties, he added, “Not only from the regional parties but the supporter from whatever National parties or whatever you say we would like to seek their support also.”
Highlighting the party’s electoral calculations, Lyngdoh said, “Most important thing we have to look at the, what is the mindset of the people?”
He further added, “I feel that whatever time that we have taken for the last two and half month, the exercise was going on to ensure that the candidate that we put up this time is not the only of UDP, it has to be the candidate of the people of this constituency.”
