Ian Botham is contesting the Meghalaya Assembly polls. So are Frankenstein, Kennedy and Nehru.
If you are thinking cricket — or monster, or global leaders of the last century — think again.
Ian Botham K. Sangma is the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate for the Salmanpara seat. He is being billed as the prime challenger to the Congress incumbent who lived up to his name — Winnerson D. Sangma — in 2013.
NPP, which former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma had acquired from a Manipur-based regional party, is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party-helmed North East Democratic Alliance.
If Ian Botham Sangma is a newcomer, fellow-party leader Frankenstein W. Momin is a veteran contesting the Mendipathar seat. Mr. Momin had last won the seat as a Congress leader in 2008.
Miles away, to the east of Mendipathar, is the Mawphlang constituency which another veteran — Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem — seeks to retain for the Congress. Not far away in the Pynursla seat is Nehru Suting of the regional United Democratic Party (UDP), who has a formidable opponent in sitting Congress MLA Prestone Tynsong.
Mr. Suting is not the only Nehru contesting the polls. There’s Nehru D. Sangma, an independent for the Gambegre seat.
“Many in Meghalaya have fancy names, perhaps to sound different,” said former bureaucrat Toki Blah, agreeing the names some candidates have are attributes often not associated with politicians.
Instances are Innocent Shadap, the regional Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement candidate for the Nartiang seat; Rightious N Sangma of the Nationalist Congress Party, contesting the Salmanpara seat; and Probety Nongpluh of NPP, contesting from Pynthorumkhrah.
Some candidates flaunt the names of major cities around the globe. They include Boston Marak of People’s Democratic Front (Salmanpara), Holando Lamin of Congress (Amlarem), Polanding Sohphoh of BJP (Mawkyrwat), Chris Kabul A. Sangma of UDP and Dilliram G Marak, an independent (both Selsella).
Some candidates exude lineage in their names. Examples are Wellborn Bynnud, an independent (Shella), Hispreaching Son Shylla of NPP (Nongkrem), Good Leaderson Nongsiej of PDF (Nongstoin).
A few are strength personified, such as Sounder Strong Cajee of NPP (South Shillong) and Pillarson G. Momin of PDF (Mawshynrut).
Others radiate confidence or are at ease with the poll process. Just ask Comingone Ymbon, NPP’s candidate for Raliang, Hopeful Bamon (NPP, Sutnga-Saipung) and Comfort Dolloi, an independent whose rivals in Jirang include Witness Day Sancley of the Congress.
Then there are the seemingly dangerous Bomber Sing Hynniewta (Independent, Mylliem) and Mafiara T Sangma of Garo National Council (Mahendraganj).
Also in the fray are Couple Stone Shllya, Moonlight Pariat, Firstborn Nongtdu, Highlander Kharmalki, Predecessor Rumong, Process T Sawkmie, Firstborn Nongtdu, Eureka FP Lyngdoh, Councellor Singh Wahlang, Blandingstar Warjri and Morningstar Mawsor.
If you find some of these hilarious, you have probably never heard of Hilarius Pochchen, the PDF candidate for the Nongkrem seat.
