Mirik sets an example: Gram Panchayat board of Independents

YAWAN GURUNG, MIRIK, 15 JUL 2023 : Independent candidates who have been elected as members at the Ranghnang Gopaldhara Gram Panchayat have decided to form the panchayat board, elected panchayat member Sangram Rai said on Saturday.

He said genuine independent candidates had won five of the total of 10seats in the gram panchayat in the election held on July 8. With the support of one BJP candidate, they had decided to form the board an work independently and stay separate from any political party. The six elected members had agreed on this issue.

Among these members were Pasang Dukpa from Majuwa, Chultim Tamang from Chhabisay Katwali, Jiten Sewa from Seeyok Bhasmay Gudamadhurra and Bharti Pradhan and Sangam Rai from Seeyok who had contested in the elections as independent candidates.

He also said that Amit Chhetri, who had won the Upper Gopaldhara seat with a BJP ticket had also joined hands with the independents, giving the independents the required number to form the board.

“We will fulfil the desires of the people who have made the independents victorious,” he said. “Since there are two independent elected members in the panchayat samiti, it will be convenient to discuss matters.” 

He also informed that meetings were being held among the independently elected members.

It may be recalled that the last panchayat election held in Sikkim was a party-less one, with all the candidates contesting and elected being Independents