Opposition tie-up talks expected, says SDF

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 18 Jan 2019, Gangtok: Sikkim Lok Sabha member and senior Sikkim Democratic Front leader P. D. Rai has made light of the move by the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and the Hamro Sikkim Party to stitch up an alliance between the two parties before the coming Parliament and Assembly elections.

Reacting to the recent meeting between SKM president P. S. Golay and HSP leader Bhaichung Bhutia to explore possibility of an alliance between their parties, Rai said it was an expected move.

"Who seeks alliances? Alliances are sought by smaller parties who do not have the kind of political muscle to take on the larger party. So, this is absolutely natural. We had expected it," he said.

The two-time Lok Sabha member said the SDF, on its part, would fight the elections in on its own as it had done in the past.

"We have already made it amply clear that we will go into the elections on our own. We have always done it and we will continue to do it," he said.

The SDF, which has been in power in Sikkim for over 24 years, has never had pre-poll alliances. But the SDF has had post-poll tie-ups at the Centre both with the United People's Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

It is presently part of both the BJP-led NDA and North East Democratic Alliance.

However, in recent months, SDF president and Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling has publicly voiced his displeasure at the NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly not meeting a single demand of the state, leading to speculation that it could walk out of the alliance.

Rai, however, said there was no question of the SDF leaving the NDA.

"We are not ones that will go and say we will break up from the NDA. The point is in Sikkim the Lok Sabha as well as the Assembly elections will be fought by the SDF on its own," he iterated.

Bhutia, whose party has also been in talk with the BJP for a possible alliance, though, has made it clear that it will first have to severe its link with the SDF before any tie-up with his party is reached.

"We have made our position clear to the BJP. The SDF cannot be in the NDA and NEDA. We are still waiting to hear from the BJP," he said on Wednesday.

The former footballer said like Golay, he was also in favour of having an alliance with all anti-SDF parties, but for that to happen, a common minimum programme would have to be drawn up.

"All parties have different agendas, but we have to come to an agreement on certain issues. Issues that are in favour of Sikkim," he said.