100 file papers in Sikkim civic polls -Elections to seven civic bodies — the 19-ward Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council (seven seats)

Elections will be held to seven civic bodies — the 19-ward Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council (seven seats) and the nagar panchayats of Nayabazar-Jorethang, Gyalshing, Singtam, Rangpo and Mangan which have five wards each

Monday was the last day of filing of nominations. The papers would be scrutinised on Tuesday and the last day of the withdrawal of the nominations is Thursday: File picture

Rajeev Ravidas   |   TT   |   Siliguri   |    09.03.21  :  Over 100 candidates have filed their nomination for the urban local body polls that will be held on a non-partisan basis in Sikkim on March 31.

Elections will be held to seven civic bodies — the 19-ward Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Namchi Municipal Council (seven seats) and the nagar panchayats of Nayabazar-Jorethang, Gyalshing, Singtam, Rangpo and Mangan which have five wards each.

Monday was the last day of filing of nominations. The papers would be scrutinised on Tuesday and the last day of the withdrawal of the nominations is Thursday.

Prominent persons in the fray include Kala Rai, president of the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)’s women’s wing, former councillor and SKM leader Nilu Chettri, businessman Prem Goyal and Sikkim Democratic Front activist Sandip Malu, in Gangtok. Senior SKM leader Suresh Tamang, and Ranju Lamichaney and Rajni Pradhan of the SDF are in fray at Singtam.

All candidates, however, will be contesting in their individual capacities as the Sikkim Municipality Act 2007 was amended in September and polls made party-less. In the last polls held on party basis in October 2015, the SDF had made a clean sweep, winning all 53 wards at the seven civic bodies. The SKM, which was then in the opposition, had drawn a blank.

The civic body elections were due to be held in October last year, but had to be postponed because of the pandemic. The seven civic bodies together have close to 82,000 voters.

Observers said even though the elections were being held on non-partisan basis, political parties would influence their supporters to vote for the candidates of their choice. “Most of the candidates are affiliated to parties. The voters will be made aware of the fact,” said an observer.

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/100-file-papers-in-sikkim-civic-polls/cid/1808895)