The deferred Assembly election in Sohiong constituency will be held on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.
The announcement was made by the Election Commission today.
According to the poll panel, the model code of conduct shall come into force with immediate effect in the district in which the Assembly constituency is going for election.
The elections for 60-member Meghalaya Assembly were held on February 27 but the polling in Sohiong was deferred following the death of UDP candidate Horju Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh, who died on February 20 due to cardiac arrest.
The notification for election to Sohiong constituency will be issued on April 13. The last date for filing of nominations is April 20 while the date for scrutiny of nominations is April 21. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 24.
However, it is clear that only the candidate of the UDP will be allowed to file his nomination.
Recently, the UDP had announced Synsharlang Lyngdoh Thabah as its candidate for the Sohiong seat. Thabah is the nephew of late Lyngdoh.
The other candidates who have already filed their nominations are sitting MLA Samlin Malngiang (NPP), S Osborne Kharjana (Congress), Sandondor Ryntathiang (HSPDP), Seraph Eric Kharbuki (BJP) and Stodingstar Thabah (Trinamool Congress).
There are a total of 34,783 voters in Sohiong constituency of which 17,687 are females.
The outcome of the election from Sohiong is crucial in adding to the strength of the ruling MDA-2 or the opposition.
In the February 27 elections, the NPP won 26 seats mostly from Garo Hills. The UDP won 11 seats while the BJP, HSPDP and the PDF won two seats each. Two independent candidates also emerged victorious.
The UDP is supporting the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, led by the NPP. Various other local parties are also supporting the government.
Like the previous occasions, the BJP with two MLAs is a part of the MDA government.
The 14-member opposition however comprises Congress (5), Trinamool Congress (5) and Voice of the People Party (4).
