Reports of Dec 9 polls being ‘rigged’ to clear way for James Sangma’s election as cricket body president
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 4: The Shillong Cricket Association (SCA) has launched a scathing attack on the upcoming Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) elections scheduled for December 9, branding the entire process “fundamentally defective” and “constitutionally indefensible” due to multiple procedural violations.
The fierce objections come amid widespread reports that the election is being “engineered” to install former Home Minister James P.K. Sangma as MCA president. Sangma, contesting from Tura District Cricket Association, faces Sengnab Momin (North Garo Hills) and Arwotki Sumer (West Jaintia Hills) for the top post.
Only the Honorary Treasurer’s position will witness a contest between Eddystone Shylla (West Jaintia Hills) and Dister Marbaniang (East Khasi Hills).
Present Honorary Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni (Ri-Bhoi) is set to be re-elected unopposed for a second term, while Mebanphira Swer (West Khasi Hills) will be elected uncontested as the Honorary Joint Secretary. Rajiv Bareh (East Jaintia Hills) and Chuba R. Marak (South Garo Hills) are also set to be elected uncontested as Vice President and Apex Council Member respectively.
In a strongly worded letter to Electoral Officer Hemanta Narzary, SCA Secretary Desarius B. Kharmalki accused the MCA of deliberate sabotage of transparency.
Key allegations include withholding names of authorised voting representatives until after nominations closed, forcing candidates to file “blind”; allowing less than 24 hours to raise objections to the draft electoral roll while still concealing representatives’ names; publishing the final roll only on December 3, leaving just six effective campaigning days instead of the mandated seven and failure to specify the polling venue in advance and releasing it only six days before polling, breaching BCCI and MCA constitutional requirements.
SCA has demanded the process be declared null and void, a fresh electoral roll published, genuine objection and nomination periods granted, and polling fixed at MCA headquarters in Shillong. East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Rosetta Mary Kurbah confirmed that an officer has been deputed to inquire into SCA’s petition, though she clarified that she lacks authority to stop the election, which falls under BCCI’s jurisdiction. Her priority, she said, is preventing any law-and-order disturbance.
“I have asked my officer to complete the inquiry at the earliest. The district administration wants to ensure that the MCA election does not create any law and order problem,” Kurbah told The Shillong Times.
When contacted, MCA Honorary Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni rejected the allegations, insisting all BCCI procedures were followed under Narzary, a retired Assam IAS officer, appointed after two former Meghalaya CEOs expressed their unavailability. He explained that the venue shift to Ri-Bhoi was due to lack of suitable accommodation in Shillong for representatives from all 12 districts.
Kharkamni dared SCA to approach the court and defended his tenure, saying results in the past year spoke for themselves. On claims that the election process was being “rigged” to favour James P.K. Sangma, he maintained: “No one can bar any district representative from contesting. The electors will decide.”
