SDF sacks a founder

Ran Bahadhur Subba

TT, Gangtok, Jan. 29: The Sikkim Democratic Front expelled one of its founder member Ran Bahadhur Subba today, a day before he was expected to resign, for supposed anti-party activities.

This morning, SDF vice-president S.K. Pradhan issued the letter of expulsion mentioning that Subba was involved in anti-party activities and guilty of serious breach of discipline.

Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling heads the SDF.

Subba, 64, who held the post of party vice-president, has served as a minister for three terms and as an MLA from Soreng constituency in West Sikkim for one term (2009-2014).

The SDF was formed in 1993.

Subba was not given the party's ticket in the 2014 Assembly election which political sources said could be one of the reasons why he did not wish to remain in the party.

A confidant of Subba said over phone: "Subba had decided to resign from the party and was to submit his resignation on Monday. But now it seems that the party doesn't want to be embarrassed and it has issued his sacking letter today. This will not stop us. Subba will address a public meeting at Jalipool on Monday and make clear why he has been rebelling against the SDF and its leadership."

Sources said Subba was unhappy with the party leadership.

SDF spokesperson K.T. Gyalsten said: "The party has been observing Subba's activities, some of which are against the principles of our party. He grabbed maximum benefit and now he is opposing the party ideology. Our party is a disciplined set-up and therefore, Subba has been expelled."

A former minister from the SDF, P.S. Golay, in 2009 had also raised his voice against the party.

Later, he resigned and formed Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) which won 10 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections.

Last year, seven MLAs from the SKM joined the SDF.