SHILLONG, AUG 5: North-Eastern Hill University has given the green light to two of its faculty members to contest the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection.
The approval came during the 88th Emergent meeting of the NEHU Executive Council on Tuesday, chaired by In-charge Vice-Chancellor Prof Saroj Kanta Barik.
The Council granted No Objection Certificates to Dr. DRL Nonglait from the Department of Khasi and Prof. Batskhem Myrboh from the Department of Political Science.
Dr. Nonglait is contesting on an NPP ticket, while Prof. Myrboh is the VPP candidate.
“We have discussed in detail and the Executive Council has approved the (proposal for granting No Objection Certificates to two of its professors),” Prof. Barik said after the meeting.
On the procedure to be followed if they win, he said university rules are clear.
“The rules and regulations are very clear. If they win, they have to take leave from the university and as per the rule it will again come to the EC, which has the authority to approve and decide,” he said.
Asked for his personal view, the VC said he was not closely associated with either professor but wished them well.
“I wish all the best to them. We will be proud if one of our colleagues gets into the legislature,” Prof. Barik said.
“I am from the sciences and a teacher and researcher, so I don’t have much interaction with them,” he added, noting he had met Dr Nonglait once during an Academic Council meeting on college affiliations.
Prof Myrboh had earlier approached the Meghalaya High Court seeking intervention over the alleged delay in issuing the NOC.
With the certificate now in place, both candidates are cleared to campaign.
The byelection to the Shillong seat was necessitated following the death of sitting MP and NEHU professor Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon on February 19 this year.
The constituency spans 36 Assembly seats across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills regions.
Both Dr Nonglait and Prof Myrboh have stepped up campaigning across the constituency in the run-up to the polls.
