Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024 22:00 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Oct 28, 2024 16:31 [IST]
GANGTOK,: Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim candidates were disqualified during scrutiny of nomination papers on Monday for Namchi-Singhithang and Soreng-Chakung bypolls by the respective Returning Officers.
The candidature submitted by Mahesh Rai, the CAP Sikkim candidate for Namchi-Singhithang, was rejected due to the insufficient number of proposers.
Similarly, the nomination papers of Pobin Hang Subba, the CAP Sikkim candidate for Soreng-Chakung, were rejected after thorough hearing of objections in terms of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, an official release informs.
Scrutiny of the nomination papers of all the candidates in their presence and their election agents were done by the respective Returning Officers in Namchi DAC and Soreng DAC. Barring the CAP Sikkim candidates, the nomination papers of other candidates were duly accepted by the Returning Officers.
With CAP Sikkim candidates disqualified, only the candidates from the ruling SKM and opposition SDF are in fray for the bypolls happening for Namchi-Singhithang and Chakung-Soreng constituencies.
At Soreng-Chakung constituency, former area MLA Aditya Golay from the SKM is contesting against SDF candidate Prem Bahadur Bhandari.
At Namchi-Singhithang, SKM candidate Satish Chandra Rai is pitted against SDF candidate Daniel Rai.
The last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 30 with polling scheduled on November 13.
Meanwhile, the CAP Sikkim has claimed conspiracy behind the rejection of its candidates. This action is an assault on the essence of democracy and once again demonstrates the dictatorial tendencies of the SKM, showing their disregard for democratic values, said CAP Sikkim spokesperson Hem Raj Adhikari in a media statement.
“CAP Sikkim believes that the misguided leadership of SKM has resorted to unethical and unconstitutional measures, pressuring the Election Commission for its own interests to exclude genuine representatives of the people from the electoral process. It is evident that out of fear of impending defeat in the Namchi-Singhithang and Soreng-Chakung constituencies, SKM has left no stone unturned in its attempt to suppress the people’s voice and manipulate the democratic process,” said the party spokesperson.
Adhikari maintained that the disqualification of its candidates was a grave insult to democracy and a betrayal of the people. “Our party will never accept such conspiracies. No amount of condemnation is enough for SKM’s dangerous attitude. The CAP Sikkim urges all true lovers of democracy to be alert to the serious threat posed by SKM’s actions to the political stability and rights of the people of Sikkim. Today stands as the darkest day for democratic Sikkim,” said the CAP Sikkim spokesperson.
In a media statement, SKM spokesperson Bikash Basnet said that the nomination of CAP candidate for Namchi-Singhithang was rejected due to forged proposers’ signatures.
“Proposers filed an FIR and lodged a formal complaint with the Returning Officer. During the scrutiny, the Returning Officer requested supporting documents (PAN card, bank passbook, driving licence and other documents) with their original signatures from the proposers, which did not match the ones submitted on the nomination paper by the CAP candidate. These discrepancies confirmed that the signatures had been forged. On this ground, CAP nomination was rejected,” Basnet said.
Rejecting the allegations levelled by CAP Sikkim, SKM spokesperson Krishna Lepcha maintained that the CAP Sikkim candidates were rejected by the Returning Officers due to their fraudulent submissions.
“CAP Sikkim has been doing fraud politics for a long time. Even during the 2024 Assembly elections held in April, the CAP candidates’ nominations were rejected at Lachen-Mangan and Kabi-Lungchok due to its fraudulent activities. They are again trying to attract attention by blaming the SKM,” said Lepcha.
The SKM spokesperson asserted that the CAP Sikkim would not have a long political journey as it was unable to get the proposers for its candidates. We suggest CAP Sikkim to do politics based on truth and facts and to stop its misleading acts, he said.