Youth leader Ashis Rai returns to SDF with a retinue of followers

 Denying Ashish Rai a ticket in 2019 cost us the election: Pawan Chamling 

PRAKASH ADHIKARI, SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, GANGTOK, 19 SEPTEMBER 2023 : Former Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling has admitted that denying Ashish Rai a ticket in the 2019 elections from Arithang constituency had cost Sikkim Democratic Front the election. Chamling, president of Sikkim Democratic Front, was speaking at a mass joining event at the party office on Tuesday where a multitude of retired officials and enthusiastic youths joined SDF. Dozens of retired officers and hundreds of individuals from various constituencies, all rallying under the leadership of youth leader Ashis Rai, joined SDF during the day.

Ashish Rai, who was serving as the Gangtok Municipal Corporation Subject Committee Chairman, was seen as the most eligible candidate from Arithang constituency as SDF youth leader. He was replaced by Shyam Pradhan as the candidate then.

This had led to widespread protest among supporters of Ashis Rai in the SDF prior to the elections in 2019. Terming Ashish Rai's return as 'homecoming', Chamling said: "Ashish Rai was not given a ticket in 2019. Thereafter we realised it was a mistake. It was more of a misunderstanding. We rectify that mistake that had toppled us from the government. In 2024 we will not make that mistake, in fact we admit that it will be our last mistake. We welcome him back home, we are happy for his return and we feel he is part of the family."

Ashish Rai in his address also admitted to 'homecoming', but asserted on "Shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool me twice." He shared: "I left the SDF on March 25, 2019, to be an independent candidate from Arithang. On September 19, 2023, I returned back home. For four and half years I have been living by the principles of SDF. What Chamling has done for Sikkim is for future generations. There are infrastructures made in his era that have brought recognition to Sikkim today and will also bring tomorrow. Organic Sikkim is an example of the same. Today the ruling front has undervalued Organic Mission. But when G20 happened in Sikkim, they realised the recognition of Sikkim as Organic Sikkim."

Speaking on SDF 2.0, Rai stated: "I am here to Save Sikkim, people tell me how I can lick back my own spit, I am ready to lick back 100 spits for Sikkim. Show me one leader who doesn't get old. He has been here since the monarchy till 50 years of democracy which will be next year. He is the only leader. If they (the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha) were bringing changes, why hasn't Sikkim seen change?" Stressing on the ‘Save Sikkim’ campaign of SDF, Chamling the 2024 elections would offer the last chance to save Sikkim. He said: "The election will happen anytime between December and February. There is an assumption that it will happen two months in advance. Hence, there is no time left. I urge everyone to go back to constituencies and work for the people. There is a need for team work, to make the party stronger.

There is no room for groupism but the need for saving Sikkim. We must stand united and work in every constituency. We must ensure SDF wins, that Sikkim wins and is saved". A total of 724 members joined the SDF during the day. Chamling claimed 90 percent of them were from SKM and10 percent were from other parties.

Besides Ashish Rai, the other prominent figures who joined the SDF during the day were former assistant registrar, Sikkim University, C.B. Chettri, Sharad Rai from SKM, former bureaucrats D. K. Bhandari, Navin Karki, D.K. Rai, social activist Toya Rizal and the Sikkim chapter of Aam Aadmi Party.

More prominent figures and political activists are expected to join the SDF by September 22, which is the birthday of Pawan Chamling. Among the prominent figures expected to join the SDF is football icon Bhaichung Bhutia who has already announced his decision to align with the SDF. With the assembly and Lok Sabha polls approaching, both the ruling SKM and the SDF are actively engaged in mass joining initiatives to bolster their ranks. Recently, SKM had organized a mass joining programme in Ravangla, attracting over 1,300 new member