Ganesh Rai to launch political party during Sikkim Sudhar Yatra

BIJOY GURUNG

We are here as a Vikalpa for people: Ganesh
GANGTOK,: Reform Call president Ganesh Rai is walking a ‘Sikkim Sudhar Yatra’ from November 21, and during this State-wide people outreach campaign, will be announcing his regional political party.
“Lot of rumours are being spread against Reform Call initiative and now it is time for us to step forward as a political party. Before announcing our party, we want to go ahead with the ‘Sikkim Sudhar Yatra’. Our party and issues will be announced during the yatra. We plan to reach every place of the State and interact with the people there on what reforms are needed in Sikkim,” said Ganesh in a Sunday press meet here at Deorali.
‘Don’t try to stop Sudhar Yatra’
Ganesh added that yatra also signals that the Reform Call members and sympathizers have now come out in the open and do not hesitate of being exposed in public. “Many have been supporting us and I appeal to them that it is time we come out in open and work in an exposed manner. Our campaign is also to tell the people why they deserve an alternative,” he said.
Ganesh asserted that the yatra, to start from South Sikkim, is in the “interest of Sikkim” and would be a peaceful campaign. He warned, without naming any one, that the yatra should not be impeded through coercive tactics.
“We will not indulge in verbal abuse or other undesired activities. We merely want to connect with the people and take their feedback on how Sikkim can be made better. Yes, there would be criticism of policies. Don’t try to stop our yatra using force or other means…we are committed for Sikkim,” said the Reform Call president.
To a question, Ganesh said the yatra will be peaceful with prior information to the local administration. Whatever challenges and hurdles come, we are ready to face during our yatra but we hope there would be no disruption, he said.
‘Want to show us as a Vikalpa to the people’
Ganesh responded that the transformation of Reform Call into a political outfit should not been seen as a delayed development even though the next Assembly elections are 15-16 months away. “It is not late for us to launch the party. Fifteen months’ time is more than sufficient to prepare and contest the Assembly elections in Sikkim. We have prepared our strategies and ready to give an alternative to the people,” he said.
In his press conference, Ganesh maintained that Reform Call is a “Vikalpa” for the people in the Sikkim’s present political landscape dominated by the ruling SKM and opposition SDF. The call for an alternative is strongly visible after the panchayat election results, he said.
“We are having Assembly elections in the next 15-16 months.  The panchayat polls have given a clear indication that people are not in a mood to give the SKM government another term in office. People are ready but wondering who is the alternative? It is here that we want to come up as a Vikalpa for the people,” said Ganesh.
Results of the Sikkim Panchayat Election 2022 had been declared on Saturday.
Ganesh asserted that a political alternative is crucial for Sikkim as, he contends, there is “no hope” that the SKM government can resolve the pending political demands in the remaining 15 months in office.
“The present government has only 15 months left to fulfil its promises but sadly, cannot make a single political demand to the Centre in a strong manner, especially when the Union Home minister had come to Gangtok. They made the demand to the President but could not speak before the Union Home minister who is the correct authority to consider these demands. There is no hope that the SKM government can resolve these demands in the remaining 15 months,” said Ganesh.
Another ‘Vikalpa’ ground citied by the Reform Call leader was to address the alleged fiscal liability of Sikkim.
“Sikkim is surviving on loans and burrowed money as its economy has crumbled. The present government is using the burrowed money which belongs to the coming generation. In these four years, the State government has spent about Rs. 40,000 crore but where are the results in Sikkim? Hence, an alternative is needed for economic bailout of Sikkim. Big contracts are going outside Sikkim. We are coming with an intention to restore the economy of Sikkim,” sad Ganesh.
‘Ruling front directly interfered in panchayat polls’
Focusing on the just concluded panchayat polls, Ganesh alleged that the ruling front directly interfered with the election process despite the election being mandated as ‘party-less’.
“The ruling front directly interfered with the panchayat election and bulldozed the other independent candidates by using its money power. These candidates did not faced defeat from the people but were made to lose. However at many places, the people ensured the defeat of the ruling party’s candidates. Fair polls did not happen this time,” said Ganesh.
Ganesh appealed the losing candidates to play the opposition’s role in their villages and monitor the developmental activities there. Your role does not end after the polls and there is no need to be disappointed, we are there with you, he said. He added that during the yatra, the Reform Call would be reaching out to the candidates who lost the panchayat election.
Ganesh also dismissed claims that ‘Parivartan’ happened as there was a larger public participation in the ‘party-less’ panchayat elections. He pointed out that there was 51.9% contest in gram panchayat wards and 74.7% contest in the zilla panchayat seats during the 2017 panchayat polls. In the 2022, there was a 53.7% contest in gram panchayat wards which is only a two per cent increase, he said.
“Similarly, there is an 83.7% contest at zilla panchayat seats in 2022 which is around 9% increase as compared to 2017. This shows that the same system continues even today,” said Ganesh.