SKM returns to power in Sikkim, sweeps 31 of 32 seats in Himalayan win

In a tweet on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Tamang for his party’s victory in the Assembly polls. “I look forward to working with the state government to further the progress of Sikkim in the coming times,” he said. “I thank all those who voted for @BJP4Sikkim… 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,” he said.

Responding to Modi, Tamang posted on X: “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.”

The SDF, which was once a dominant force in the state and had held its reins since 1994, first tasted defeat in the 2019 Assembly polls, when it won 15 seats, two less than the SKM, despite its marginally higher vote share (see box). This time, the SKM’s vote share rose to 58.38%, while the SDF fell to 27.37%.

While Tamang won both his seats – Soreng-Chakung and Rhenchok by 7,396 votes and 7,044 votes respectively, SDF leader and former Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, who had also contested from two constituencies — Poklok Kamrang and Namcheybung – lost both. Tamang’s wife Krishna Kumari Rai won from the Namchi-Singhithang constituency.

The lone SDF candidate who won was Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, from Shyari constituency.

Speaking to mediapersons after his party’s victory, Tamang said: “Pawan Kumar Chamling lost in 2019 itself, but it’s a democracy… The work they couldn’t do in 25 years, we did it in five years. Hence, people have voted for us.”

The CM-designate credited his party’s victory to the trust and love of people. “Party cadres worked very hard. Now, we have the next five years to give our 100% for the people of Sikkim,” he said at a gathering in Paljor stadium in Gangtok.

Tamang, also known as P S Golay, hails from West Sikkim and has been actively involved in state politics since the early 1990s, after resigning from his job as a government teacher. He won his first election on an SDF ticket from the Soreng-Chakung Assembly seat.

In 2012, he rebelled against the SDF leadership, which suspended him from the party. He resigned from the SDF in September 2013, and floated the SKM a month later.

“In the last five years, the government has focussed on the welfare of the people. The Aama scheme for providing financial assistance to unemployed mothers belonging to economically weaker sections, the incentives announced for students, etc have directly benefited the people. The government’s move to give Rs 8 per litre of milk supplied to the Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd has also encouraged many people in the hills to take up dairy farming,” Indra Hang Subba, SKM leader and member of the outgoing Lok Sabha, told The Indian Express.

In the run-up to the elections, the Opposition had alleged violation of Article 371F, which guarantees special provision for Sikkim. “People know we did everything to protect the special guarantee for the state. In the Lok Sabha, I opposed the CAA as the people of Sikkim will not tolerate dilution of their culture of identity. We will not let our Sikkimese Indian identity be diluted,” Subba said.

Meanwhile, both the BJP and Congress failed to open their accounts in Sikkim. The BJP secured 5.18% of the total votes polled, while the Congress’s vote share was 0.32%, even lower than NOTA (none of the above) at 0.99%.