Sikkim parties pick nominees... 10 new faces

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 16 Mar 2019, Gangtok: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front and Bhaichung Bhutia's Hamro Sikkim Party on Friday released their first list of candidates for the Assembly elections, the voting for which will take place on April 11.

Being true his words, SDF president and Sikkim chief minister Pawan Chamling named as many as 10 new faces and four women in the first list of 18 candidates and HSP released the names of only six candidates, including its president Bina Basnet.

While the SDF said it would release the second and final list of 14 candidates within the next couple of days, the HSP said it would release the remaining names in tranches.

The strength of the Sikkim Assembly is 32-member strong, including a Sangha seat, which is a body of monks.

Among the prominent names figuring in the SDF first list are Chamling, who will be contesting from both his home constituency of Namchi-Singithang and neighbouring Poklok-Kamrang, both in South Sikkim, his cabinet colleagues Ugen T. Gyatso Bhutia from Tumen-Lingi, N. K. Subba from Maneybong-Dentam and D. T. Lepcha from Gnathang-Machong.

The quartet apart, the other three sitting MLAs to get the party tickets are K. S. Lepcha from Gyalshing-Barnyak, G. M. Gurung from TemiNamphing and Pintso Chopel Lepcha from Gangtok. Notably, in 2014, Lepcha had won on a SKM ticket, but had later defected to the SDF along with six others.

The SDF has dropped three ministers and both the speaker and deputy speaker of the state Assembly in the first list.

On the other hand, all barring one HSP candidate are new entrants to electoral politics. Athop Lepcha, who has been fielded from Djongu constituency, is a former minister.

The party, which was founded by the former Indian football captain less than a year back, said it will field candidates in all the 32 seats.

"We are hopeful that the people will vote with responsibility, given where our state is headed under the current regime," said HSP president, who will be contesting from Upper Tadong..