Former govt engineer tests poll waters

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 08 Apr 2019, Gangtok: Among the interesting new faces of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front contesting the Assembly elections is G.T. Dhungel, who plunged into the fray a week after he had taken voluntary retirement as principal chief engineer-cum-secretary in the state's roads and bridges department 

This meant the 59-year-old had no time to feel his way into politics and, instead, had to straightaway head into the hurly burly of election. Ever since his name was announced, Dhungel's home near the ICAR Complex at Tadong has turned into beehive of activities with his wellwishers and SDF supporters setting up camp there 

The soft-spoken Dhungel, however, shows no signs of being ill at ease in a completely unchartered territory. On the contrary, the candidate gives an impression that he has taken to politics like a duck to water. "I am really humbled by the number of people who turn up at my house every day to wish me. I feel like the entire constituency is my extended family," he said 

The SDF has fielded Dhungel in the Upper Tadong constituency in Gangtok, which has over 10,000 voters. The party had lost the seat to the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha in the 2014 Assembly elections. "We have realised the mistakes the party had made in 2014 and we have sought to address them. This time I am hundred per cent certain sure Dhungel during his election campaign that we will come out with flying colours," he said. 

Locked in a three-cornered contest with the SKM's Anand Lama and the president of Hamro Sikkim Party, Bina Basnet, Dhungel has been on the campaign trail, mostly door-to-door, for over two weeks now, averaging about 10km daily on foot. "I have been interacting with people to get a sense of what they expect from me. The common issues are availability of water and better road connectivity. Those will be my priority areas," he said. 

If he and his party were to win the election, the former engineer might become a minister, given that the SDF has dropped a number of ministers from the contest and fielded new faces in over 50 per cent of the total 32 Assembly seats. 

"As an engineer, I was part of both framing and execution of policies. I can use my experience to serve the government. I am thankful to chief minister Pawan Chamling for giving me a platform to serve the people," he said. 

Dhungel, who studied at Victoria Boys' School in Kurseong and graduated from Assam Engineering College in Guwahati, started his career in the Sikkim government as assistant engineer in 1984. In a career spanning 35 years, he served in various departments.