Standard six-month deadline to be bypassed to prioritise SIR
SHILLONG, June 17: Shillong is likely to remain unrepresented in the Lok Sabha until at least October, as the Election Commission appears set to bypass the standard six-month deadline for by-elections to prioritise an intensive cleaning of the state’s electoral rolls.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) BDR Tiwari indicated on Wednesday that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is scheduled to continue until October. While Section 149 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, generally mandates that a vacancy be filled within six months, Tiwari’s remarks suggest the poll will be deferred to align with the completion of the revision exercise.
The Shillong seat fell vacant in February following the death of MP Dr. Ricky AJ Syngkon. Under normal constitutional timelines, the by-election should have been conducted by August. An October poll would leave the Khasi-Jaintia Hills without a voice in Parliament for eight months, a significant gap as the state continues to press New Delhi on the Inner Line Permit (ILP), the inclusion of the Khasi language in the 8th Schedule, and unresolved border disputes.
The delay resets the stage for a high-stakes political battle. The Voice of the People Party (VPP) is focused on retaining the seat, while the NPP and UDP are seeking redemption following their losses in the last general election.
Tiwari maintained that the revision process is necessary to ensure the rolls are accurate and free from discrepancies. He stated that the exercise involves verifying voter details and removing ineligible entries across the state. However, the decision to prioritise administrative record-cleaning over the statutory timeline for representation remains a critical pivot.
While the final schedule depends on the Election Commission of India, the CEO’s timeline confirms that the “intensive revision” has effectively pushed the by-election into the final quarter of the year.
