Sikkim alliance talks postponed

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 31 Jan 2019, Gangtok: The move to stitch an alliance between the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha and the Hamro Sikkim Party appears to have made no headway with the postponement of the talks between the central executive committee members of both the parties scheduled for Thursday.

Even though both the parties said the meeting had to be postponed because of the absence of SKM president P. S. Golay, sources in the SKM, which is by far the largest opposition party in Sikkim, said there was tremendous opposition to the alliance within the party.

"There is no history of prepoll alliance in the state and our cadres are wary of having any tie-up with other parties. Moreover, we are a party with a proven track record and have a very huge following as opposed to the HSP which is just about finding its feet in the state," said a source.

The HSP, on the hand, insisted that the postponement was sought by the SKM, citing the absence of Golay.

"We were informed this morning that since Mr Golay would be away in New Delhi, the talks would have to be postponed. The talks will be held after February 4, which is the foundation day of the SKM," said Biraj Adhikari, the HSP spokesman.

The SKM source, however, said the alliance talks could be kept in abeyance for a longer period in order to gauge the strength of the HSP on the ground.

"We have a big organisational set up unlike the HSP which is yet to set up commit- tees at district and constituency levels. We would prefer to wait and watch for now and see as to what the HSP can bring to the table, and then take a call maybe just before the elections," said the source.

While both the parties are on the same page on many issues, including reservation of Limbu and Tamang seats in the Assembly, restoration of the Nepali seats in the Assembly, granting of Scheduled Tribe status to 11 left out Nepali communities, among others, there is huge gulf between the two on the sharing of seats.

An SKM source candidly admitted that the expectation of the HSP was not proportionate to its influence on the ground. "What we are hearing is that the HSP is expecting to be given at least 10 out of the 32 Assembly seats, which is very farfetched," said the source..