Golay sets the tone for election at Rholu Day celebration

SUJAL PRADHANGAN & PTI, GANGTOK,  21 DECEMBER 2023 : Addressing the Rholu Day programme in south Sikkim on Thursday, Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang set the tone for the general election in 2024 and said the next mission of the SKM government would be t create a ‘Sunaulo Sikkim’ (golden Sikkim). 

"Today we have taken a pledge to make Sikkim a Golden Sikkim (Sunaulo Sikkim). The vision of ‘Sunaulo Sikkim’ is a vision which aims jobs for every youth, best medical facility and education system. 

We have already placed a foundation for this. Now we have to work on it further as Sikkim is nearing the 50th year of merger with the Indian Union. We want Sikkim to be in the forefront in every field.” 

The event saw a mammoth gathering of nearly 30,000 people. It was a show of strength put up by the ruling party before the polls. SKM leaders claimed this was the biggest gathering ever staged by a political party in Sikkim. 

On December 21, 2009, after a Rholu gathering, Golay, who was then a legislator of the Sikkim Democratic Front, declared himself a dissident MLA of the party and strongly condemned the failures of then ruling SDF in delivering promises and alleged corruption and nepotism. Since then, the SKM has been observing this day as ‘Kranti Day.’ 

The Chief Minister said on the occasion that his government would provide employment to one member of each household in the state before the assembly election of 2024. 

The old age pension scheme would be restored, a move that would benefit about 50,000 serving and retired state government employees. 

Under the old pension scheme, the employees do not have to contribute any portion of his salary. In a step aimed at wooing women voters, the Chief Minister said “mothers of all households” would be provided with one free LPG cylinder every quarter, starting from next year. 

He also announced a 100 percent increase in financial assistance to women to Rs 40.000 a year