The Assembly Secretariat will tomorrow inform the Election Commission about the vacancy caused in Mawphlang constituency by the death of its MLA Syntar Klas Sun.
Sun who is the independent legislator from the constituency died at his residence in Mawngap on September 10 after he contracted Covid-19.
He was cremated yesterday at the cremation ground of Seng Khasi Marbisu.
The Election Commission has to be informed immediately after the death of an MLA in order to enable it to take steps for holding of by-election to fill up the vacancy.
Sun had contested the Assembly elections in 2018 as an independent candidate and won. He later decided to become an associate member of UDP.
Till date, he is the fourth MLA (all from Congress) to die during the term of the present Assembly.
Congress MLA from Selsella constituency, Clement Marak passed away on October 8, 2018 following prolonged illness. In the by-election held in May 2019, NPP candidate Ferlin Sangma won the seat.
Congress MLA from Mawryngkneng constituency David Nongrum died on February 2 this year. Nongrum is a two-time MLA from the constituency and also the son of former Speaker Charles Pyngrope.
Congress MLA from Rajabala constituency Dr. Azad Zaman died on March 4.
Normally, by-elections are held within six month that the Assembly seat falls vacant.
However, the Covid-19 situation in Meghalaya has prevented holding of early by-polls to these constituencies.
The Election Commission on September 1 held a meeting through video conferencing with Chief Secretaries, senior officers from the departments of health, home, DGPs from Meghalaya and other states where by-polls were to be held.
After taking stock of all issues such as Covid-19 pandemic, flood situation etc, the Election Commission decided to put on hold all by-polls and also indicated that the by-elections may be held after the end of the festival season this year.
