Seven leaders quit Bhaichung party

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, Gangtok: The Hamro Sikkim Party launched by ex-footballer Bhaichung Bhutia received a major jolt on Monday when seven senior leaders resigned, citing differences over the selection of Bina Basnet as president among other issues. 

Sources said working president R.B. Subba, vice-president Tara Shrestha, adviser K.N. Upreti and four others might join the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) even though they chose to remain mum about it .

The other four are advisor Hem Lall Basnet, public relations officer Mani Kumar Subba, publicity secretary (East Sikkim) Gopal Pathak and Man Bahadur Rai 

Subba said their grouse against Bhutia, who had formed the party on May 31 last year, was that he didn't listen to their plea to make Upreti the president, given his huge experience in politics, and instead chose a novice like Basnet over him. "We wanted to have a person from the Chh- teri-Bahun community, but someone who understands politics and is capable of protecting the interests of the Nepali community. Despite 80 per cent being in favour of Upreti saab as the president, Bhaichung thought otherwise." 

Both Basnet and Upretri are from the Chhteri-Bahun community Subba said he and majority in the party were not in favour of reserving five Assembly seats for the Limbu and Tamang communities from the existing 32 seats as articulated by the HSP. "The state government had worked out a formula of increasing the strength of the Assembly to 40 from the present 32 and then reserve five seats for the Limbus and Tamangs. However, the HSP wanted the five seats to be reserved from the present 32 seats. We are totally opposed to this," he said.

Subba was a three-time minister in the SDF governments of the past. Upreti was a minister twice in the Sikkim Sangram Parishad dispensation Bhaichung is HSP working president. 

Despite being asked repeatedly, both Subba and Upreti didn't say they and the rest would join the SDF. However, sources in the SDF said they would join the party at a programme in Jorethang in South Sikkim on Wednesday. "Some prominent leaders from the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha will also join the SDF on that day," said a source 

The HSP, which was prompt in accepting the resignations, alleged that the seven were brought over by SDF president and Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling. "…we are also aware of their situation and compulsions. We believe whatever they stated today are not their words, but the words of Mr Chamling's suitcase, which perhaps they could not resist," HSP spokesman Biraj Adhikari alleged in a press release 

Adhikari said the HSP had been formed precisely to change the alleged culture of money and muscle power in Sikkim politics.