Sikkim Assembly Polls: Counting of Votes on Sunday

Counting of Votes for Sikkim Assembly Polls to Take Place on Sunday

Sikkim witnessed primarily a bipolar contest between the ruling SKM and its main opposition SDF, with the BJP expected to compete in approximately five seats.

Officials stated that the counting of votes cast in the Sikkim assembly election will take place on Sunday.

The election for the 32 seats in the state's legislative assembly was conducted concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls on April 19 in the first phase. Sikkim has only one Lok Sabha constituency. The counting is set to commence at 6 am on June 2.

Counting of Lok Sabha votes is scheduled for June 4.

Sikkim witnessed primarily a bipolar contest between the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and its main opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expected to contest in approximately five seats. Also in the fray was the Citizen Action Party (CAP), which is gradually emerging as a formidable contender.

While the SKM aims to retain power for the second consecutive term, the SDF, which held power for 25 years until 2019, is now seeking to make a comeback.

SKM leaders, including its president Prem Singh Tamang Golay, have been asserting that the election is a cakewalk for the party, and Sikkimese voters will grant another five-year tenure to the party.

Jacob Khaling Rai, the SKM spokesperson, stated, "We are confident of winning more than 26 of the 32 seats. Voters will not give another chance to the SDF, whose 25-year-long tenure in the state was tainted by corruption and nepotism."

Pawan Chamling, the SDF president and the longest-serving chief minister of the country, remarked, "Sikkim voters have realized their mistake of voting SKM to power in 2019. Hence, they will once again vote the SDF back to power."

SDF spokesperson Arun Limboo asserted, "We will secure 19 to 26 seats."

Though the electoral battle appears to be primarily between the SKM and the SDF, the BJP and CAP, formed on January 26, 2023, are hopeful of securing some seats.

The BJP, previously an alliance partner of the ruling SKM, decided to contest independently and is fielding candidates in 31 assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile, the CAP, engaging in "flag-less" and "slogan-less" politics, is contesting in 30 assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress is competing in 18 assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat. Both the SKM and SDF are contesting in all 32 assembly seats and the lone Lok Sabha seat.

Passang Gyali Sherpa, the BJP Sikkim state spokesperson, told HT, "Sikkimese voters have supported the performance of the Modi government and its zero tolerance for corruption."

Dilli Ram Thapa, the BJP Sikkim state president, stated, "BJP will play a pivotal role in the formation of the government. We are open to discussions with all parties to ensure the betterment of Sikkim and its citizens."

In the 2019 election, the BJP secured less than 2% of the vote. Following the 2019 election results, 10 of the SDF MLAs joined the BJP, while two SDF MLAs joined the ruling SKM.

In a close contest in 2019, out of 32 seats, the SKM won 17 and the SDF 15. Two SDF MLAs, including the then chief minister Pawan Chamling, and one SKM candidate won from two seats each.

In the assembly by-election for the three seats, the SKM president and current chief minister contested from one seat, and the BJP, in alliance with the SKM, contested from two seats and emerged victorious. Currently, SKM has 19 MLAs, BJP 12, and SDF one. The lone known SDF MLA is Pawan Chamling, the former chief minister.

Rajiv Ravidas, a political analyst in Sikkim, remarked, "Though in the past, elections were primarily contested between two parties, this year we can expect a four-cornered contest, and the BJP and CAP are also likely to secure a few seats."

Sikkim, protected under Article 371(F) of the Indian Constitution, was a sovereign country until 1975 and enjoys special status. Opposition parties, including the SDF and CAP, have accused the ruling SKM of diluting this special status, while the ruling SKM has retaliated, blaming the SDF, which held power for 25 years, for compromising with the special status.

In terms of the election campaign, the ruling SKM has been significantly ahead in organizing public meetings and rallies.

Chief Minister Golay, who founded the SKM in 2013, was associated with the SDF for a long period, serving as an MLA and minister multiple times. His rebellion against the then ruling party SDF, particularly against Pawan Chamling, began in 2009. Four years after his rebellion, Golay formed the SKM, which won 10 seats in the 2014 election.

Notable candidates in the election include the chief minister himself, who is contesting from two seats, namely Soreng-Chakung and Rhenock. His wife, Krishna Kumari Rai, is contesting from the Namchi-Singithang constituency. Former Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is contesting from two seats, namely Poklok-Kamrang and Namchabong. Dilli Ram Thapa, the state BJP president, is contesting from the Upper Burtuk constituency. Ganesh Kumar Rai, the chief ministerial candidate of CAP, is contesting from Melli, and Bhaichung Bhutia, who formed his own party, Hamro Sikkim Party, in 2018, is contesting as an SDF candidate from the Barfung constituency.

For the lone Lok Sabha seat, the SKM has nominated sitting MP Indra Hang Subba, the SDF has nominated former Lok Sabha MP PD Rai, the BJP has nominated Dinesh Nepal, CAP has nominated Bharat Basnet, and the Congress has nominated Gopal Chhetri.

Sikkim has one seat reserved for Buddhist monks named Sangha, with 4,065 registered monk voters. This year, the SKM has nominated sitting MLA Sonam Lama, the SDF has nominated Tshering Lama, the BJP has nominated Tseten Tashi Bhutia, who is the convenor of Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC). Tseten Tashi Bhutia, who underwent a kidney transplant, did not campaign for himself as he is still in the hospital.

Sikkim has a total of 463,929 voters, including 232,381 male voters, 231,545 female voters, and three transgender voters.