SKM sweeps assembly elections in Sikkim, wins 31 of 32 seats
NEW DELHI: The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Sunday returned to power by sweeping the assembly polls in the Himalayan state, winning 31 of the 32 seats, according to the Election Commission.
The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front could manage only one seat.
Counting of votes for 32 assembly seats in Sikkim began at 6 am on Sunday, amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
Sikkim Chief Minister and SKM supremo P S Tamang won the Rhenock assembly seat by defeating SDF’s Som Nath Poudyal by 7,044 votes.
Tamang bagged 10,094 votes while his nearest rival of the Sikkim Democratic Front got 3,050, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Sikkim Krantikari Morcha chief Prem Singh Tamang for his party’s victory in the assembly polls and said he looks forward to working with the state government to further Sikkim’s progress.
The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) on Sunday returned to power by sweeping the assembly polls in the Himalayan state, winning 31 of the 32 seats, according to the Election Commission. The opposition Sikkim Democratic Front won only one seat.
“I thank all those who voted for @BJP4Sikkim in the Assembly Elections. I also appreciate the efforts put in by our Karyakartas,” Modi said in a post on X.
“Our Party will always be at the forefront of working towards Sikkim’s development and fulfilling people’s aspirations,” he said.
Congratulating SKM chief and Chief Minister Prem Singh Taamang (Golay), Modi said, “I look forward to working with the state government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times.”
Counting of votes for 32 assembly seats in Sikkim began at 6 am on Sunday, amid tight security arrangements.
Elections to the assembly were held simultaneously with the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Tamang and the SKM for the victory. Congratulations to SKM and CM @PSTamangGolay for their victory in the Sikkim Assembly Elections 2024. I look forward to working with the State Government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times, Modi said in a post on X. Responding to the Prime Minister’s post, Tamang thanked him.
We are committed to continuing our efforts towards the development and prosperity of Sikkim. We look forward to collaborating with you to achieve our shared goals for the betterment of our state.
Your unwavering support has been a driving force for us, and we look forward to your continued guidance and blessings,Tamang said in an X.
Modi also thanked all who voted for the BJP in the Sikkim assembly elections. The saffron party contested in 31 seats but failed to win any of them. The party bagged 5.18 per cent of the total votes polled.
Sikkim BJP president Dilli Ram Thapa, a sitting MLA, also lost to SKM nominee Kala Rai in the Upper Burtuk constituency by a margin of 2,968 votes.
I also appreciate the efforts put in by our Karyakartas. Our Party will always be at the forefront of working towards Sikkim’s development and fulfilling people’s aspirations, Modi said in a post.
After the landslide win, Tamang congratulated the party workers and the voters of Sikkim.
“It is because of the love and trust of the people which we have managed to secure in the past five years in government. Besides, party cadres worked very hard. Now we have the next five years to give our 100 per cent for the people of Sikkim,” he said at a gathering in Paljor Stadium in Gangtok. Tamang won by over 7,000 votes in both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies.
“I also want to thank the opposition as it is because of them that our party became stronger and more organised,” said the president of the SKM which had won 17 seats in 2019.
Like the BJP, the Congress also failed to open its account and secured a paltry vote share of 0.32 per cent which is even less than that of NOTA (0.99 per cent). Tamang asked the party workers to maintain calm in the aftermath of the landslide victory.
Source: Press Trust of India
