Droupadi to visit Sikkim for support before poll

As both the SKM and SDF have supported the NDA candidate in the presidential election, Murmu securing all the votes from Sikkim is a formality

Droupadi Murmu.: File photo

Rajeev Ravidas   |   TT  |  Siliguri   |   05.07.22  : Presidential candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre Droupadi Murmu will visit Sikkim on July 9 to get support for her candidature.

A social media post of the BJP’s Sikkim unit on Monday said Murmu will hold a meeting of MLAs and MPs of the NDA’s alliance partners, which include  both the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (Front).

As both the SKM and SDF have supported the NDA candidate in the presidential poll, Murmu securing all the votes from Sikkim is a formality.

SKM has 19 MLAs in the 32-member Assembly, BJP has 12 and SDF has a solitary member in party president and former chief minister Pawan Chamling. The two regional parties also have a member each in the two Houses of parliament — the SKM in the Lok Sabha and the SDF in the Rajya Sabha.

Chief minister P.S. Golay had expressed confidence that she would go on to become the first woman President from the ethnic community. “We extend our best wishes to her,” he had said.

“Since the SDF is a member of the NDA, we have decided to vote for NDA candidate Smt Droupadi Murmu in the presidential election,” Chamling had said.