Shillong, Jun 8: James PK Sangma, lead candidate for Meghalaya’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, will not step down from his role as president of the Meghalaya Cricket Association even if he is elected to Parliament.
Speaking to reporters after filing his nomination papers today, Sangma said that there is no bar to being both MCA president and an MP.
He said that existing provisions permit MLAs and MPs to hold executive positions in sports associations, although such roles are not open to ministers.
Sangma did resign as Chairman of the Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation before filing his Rajya Sabha paperwork as that is considered an office for profit but the same does not apply to his position in the MCA.
Sangma, who assumed charge as MCA president in January, also addressed concerns surrounding the functioning of the cricket body, admitting that the association has been grappling with long-standing issues inherited from previous years.
He said several unresolved matters had affected the association’s operations and slowed down key processes. However, he expressed confidence that these challenges would be addressed in the near future, adding that the welfare of both office and support staff remained a priority.
The president said that one of his first decisions after taking over the association was to fill the post of ombudsman, which had reportedly remained vacant for nearly two years. He described the appointment as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and improve institutional functioning within the MCA.
Sangma said the MCA is awaiting findings from the Meghalaya State Women’s Commission before initiating further action regarding allegations of harassment of U-23 women players and an alleged attempted cover-up. He added that the association would take appropriate steps once the commission submits its report.
Sangma is locked in a battle with certain other office bearers of the MCA, with the president attempting to be the sole signatory on the association’s bank accounts when, normally, the honorary secretary and treasurer are usually the signatories. This has led to an impasse and the non-payment of salaries to staff and inability to clear bills and hindered preparations for the upcoming BCCI domestic season. Sangma named the honorary secretary, Rayonald Kharkamni, publicly for attempting a cover-up over the harassment allegations. However, recently he tried to downplay their differences, saying contrasting viewpoints are good in an organisation.
