Shillong: United Democratic Party (UDP), part of the ruling NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), on Thursday announced senior advocate Vivanstone G Kharngapkynta as its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, the schedule for which was yet to be announced by the Election Commission.The parliamentary seat fell vacant after demise of then sitting MP Ricky AJ Syngkon of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Feb 19 this year.UDP president and cabinet minister Metbah Lyngdoh announced Kharngapkynta’s name after formally inducting him as a full-fledged party member at a meeting here today.The number of candidates in the field for the Shillong parliamentary by-election rose to four, with the other candidates being D.R.L. Nonglait of the National People’s Party (NPP), former MP Vincent H Pala of Congress, and Batskhem Myrboh of VPP.The UDP candidate, who was entering electoral politics for the first time, said if elected, he would work for “further strengthening” of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, which he termed as the “strongest safeguard” for the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.Kharngapkynta emphasised strengthening the existing tribal autonomous district councils and also stressed collective efforts for acquiring constitutional recognition of the Khasi language through its inclusion in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution.