SKM sweeps Sikkim Municipal Elections as majority of seats go uncontested

19 of 21 seats in GMC won unopposed; polling to be held in one ward on April 24

GANGTOK, April 4: The deadline for candidates to withdraw their nomination papers for municipal elections in Sikkim ended on Saturday, leaving a majority of seats across the State uncontested.

The ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) secured a sweeping victory in the 21-seater Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC), with 19 candidates elected unopposed. Polling will be held only in the Diesel Power House (DPH) ward, where Independent candidate Bindhya Cintury will contest against BJP’s Srijana Chettri. Voting is scheduled for April 24, with counting on April 25.

The Panihouse ward remained uncontested after both SKM candidate Norbu Tamang and the BJP nominee withdrew their nominations.

Among those elected unopposed from GMC on SKM tickets are Ongden Bhutia (Bhojoghari 2nd Mile), Nell Bahadur Chettri (Upper Burtuk), Tashi Chopel Lepcha (Lower Burtuk), Jashu Jairu (Lower Sichey I), Puspa Rai (Lower Sichey II, Lingding), Aruna Chettri (Upper Sichey), Chungkela Lepcha (Chandmari), Lashey Doma Bhutia (Tathangchen), Tshering Palden Bhutia (Development Area), Karma Tempo Rapgyal Bhutia (Arithang I), Sara Lama (Arithang II), Pankaj Prasad (Lower MG Marg-Lall Bazar), Sundeep Malu (Upper MG Marg), Hissey Doma Bhutia (Tibet Road), Nirmala Chettri (Deorali Upper Syari), Milan Kumar Chettri (Daragaon-Lumsey), Sonam Pintso Bhutia (Tadong), Bhawana Rai (Lower Tadong 6th Mile) and Sakuntala Pradhan (Ranipool).

Similarly, the Namchi Municipal Council saw all seven wards decided uncontested. SKM candidates Saraswati Sharma (Gangyap), Anu Chettri (Dambudara), Mamta Kalikotey (Lower Ghurpisey), Lucky Tamang (Upper Boomtar), Ganesh Rai (Upper Singhithang) and Manoj Kumar Manger (Purano Namchi) along with BJP’s Sangay Bhutia (Upper Ghurpisey) were elected unopposed.

Across all seven Nagar Panchayats, all seats were decided without contest.

In Singtam Nagar Panchayat, SKM candidates Mukesh Agarwal (Daragaon), Bindhya Subba (Mandir Line), Kishore Chettri (Lall Bazar) and Suresh Kumar Tamang (Chisopani), and BJP’s Rajani Singh Cintury (Pipal Dara) were elected unopposed.

All five seats in Mangan Nagar Panchayat were won unopposed by SKM candidates. Tshering Pintso Saring (Upper Mangan Bazar) Phurkit Lepcha (Pentok), Norbu Rinchen Lepcha (Power Colony), Hangu Lachenpa (Rinzing Namgyal Marg) and Tshering Doma Bhutia (Lower Mangan Bazar), all SKM candidates, received their certificates of election today.

Similarly, SKM registered a clean sweep in Rangpo and Pakyong Nagar Panchayats, winning all five seats in each body without contest.

In Pakyong, Inchung Bhutia won from Kartok ward, Rozi Gurung from Dugalakha, Bhim Maya Chettri from Basnet Gaon, Rakesh Basnett from Pakyong Bazar and Sancha Maya Tamang from Dikling-Chalamthang ward.

Pinku Kumar Prasad retained the Rangpo Upper Bazar seat, while other candidates to win in Rangpo are Sanju Manger (Majhitar), Radha Pradhan (Mining), Sanjeev Kumar Khati (Mandi Bazar) and Larishna Tamang (Chanatar).

In Gyalshing Nagar Panchayat, all five candidates, Rinzing Bhutia, Praveen Darjee, Laki Doma Bhutia, Suman Mittal and Khina Maya Tewari, were elected unopposed after withdrawal of two independent candidates from New Gyalshing ward today.

All five seats in Nayabazar-Jorethang Nagar Panchayat were also settled without contest. SKM candidates Sunil Kumar Gupta (Shantinagar), Manjari Rai (Trikaleshwar), Uma Protel (Daragaon), Samten Moktan Tamang (Majhigaon) and Randeep Chhetri (Nayabazar) were declared elected unopposed following the withdrawal of other nominations.

Likewise, all five seats in Soreng Nagar Panchayat were decided without contest. BJP’s Naren Subba won from Dara Bazar, while SKM candidates Santi Kala Limbu, Dina Hangma Subba, Dil Prasad Jogi and Divya Subba secured Singling, Soreng Bazar, Pragati Chowk and Daragaon wards respectively.

Municipal returning officers and other election authorities distributed certificates of election to the winning candidates.