Golay to take oath today

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT, 27 May 2019, Gangtok: Governor Ganga Prasad on Sunday invited Sikkim Krantikari Morcha president P.S. Golay to form the next government in the Himalayan state though questions hang over his eligibility to contest any election in the near future following conviction in a corruption case.

Golay will be sworn in as the chief minister at Palzor Stadium in Gangtok at 10am on Monday.

Golay, who had spearheaded the SKM's campaign against the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front in the Assembly elections, himself did not contest the election because of legal compulsions even though his party claimed otherwise.

The SKM president cannot take part in any election for six years from the day he was released from prison on August 10 last year after serving a year's term in a corruption case. However, Article 164 of the Constitution says anyone can become a minister even if he/she is not a member of the Assembly, but he or she has to get elected as an MLA within six months of assuming office.

Golay had been accused of misappropriating funds to the tune of Rs. 9.50 lakh in the milch cow distribution schemes of the Sikkim government when he was the animal husbandry minister in Chamling's first term as chief minister between 1994 and 1999.

Legal experts had suggested it was up to the governor to use his discretion to invite or PS Golay not invite the SKM president to form the government.

"Now that the governor has gone ahead and invited Mr Golay to form the government, he, to my mind, has gone against the spirit of the law since you and I know that he cannot get become a member of the Assembly within six months of his assuming office," said a lawyer.

The SKM had on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Prasad staking claim to form the government under the leadership of Golay.

Late Sunday evening, the governor's office issued a press release inviting the SKM president to form the government. "Hon'ble Governor of Sikkim Shri Ganga Prasad has been pleased to accept the memorandum submitted by Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Goley), President of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha Party and leader of Legislative Party of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha to form the government. The swearing in ceremony of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers will be held at Palzor Stadium, Gangtok at 10:00 hrs on Monday…;" said the release..