SDF & CAP have lost their credibility & presence in Sikkim: SKM

GANGTOK,: Ruling SKM has countered that Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim is spreading false claims in an attempt to mislead the public after nominations of their candidates were rejected during scrutiny process for the Namchi-Singhithang and Soreng-Chakung bye-elections.

“CAP has been caught submitting forged proposer’s signatures for their candidates, while SDF’s candidates were compelled to withdraw candidacy after their leader left for a foreign trip, abandoning them and even no attention from party’s high command,” said the ruling SKM in a press statement Wednesday.

The SKM has won the Namchi-Singhithang and Soreng-Chakung bypolls unopposed after the CAP Sikkim candidates failed in the scrutiny process while the SDF candidates withdrew their nominations.

“It is clear that the so-called Citizen Action Party (CAP) failed to maintain accountability and integrity in the nomination process for the by-elections in Soreng-Chakung and Namchi-Singhithang constituencies. After their candidates’ nominations were rejected, CAP resorted to spreading false claims in an attempt to mislead the public,” added the ruling front.

The SKM pointed out that during the scrutiny, it was revealed that CAP had submitted forged proposer signatures.

“Some proposers did not even recognize the CAP candidate, and several signatures on the nomination forms did not match official records like PAN cards and bank passbooks. In one instance, a proposer’s caste was incorrectly mentioned instead of their full name, showcasing CAP’s fraudulent and careless approach. Furthermore, some proposers were not even present in the State and in one case an illiterate proposer’s thumbprint was falsified with a forged signature. The most absurd part of this drama was that these proposers couldn’t even recognize CAP’s candidates clearly revealing their foul-play,” said the SKM.

The SKM added that the entire scrutiny process was conducted live, under the strict protocols of the Election Commission of India and supervised by election observers. “Despite this, CAP failed to prove the legitimacy of their documents despite they were given ample opportunity to prove their side. CAP is attempting to twist the narrative outside, a classic case of “Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Daatey”,” said the SKM.

“This isn’t the first time CAP has engaged in such fraudulent activities. In the last general election, two CAP candidates had their nominations cancelled due to similar mistakes. Rather than taking responsibility, CAP continues to mislead the public with false narratives,” said the SKM.

The SKM said the CAP Sikkim received mere 6% of the vote in the last election and has been nearly eradicated from Sikkim’s political landscape, and thus deliberately engaged in this forgery to gain attention and create political propaganda. However, their plan backfired and they’ve lost all credibility with the people of Sikkim, said the ruling front.

Similarly, SDF candidates withdrew their nominations after being abandoned by their leader Pawan Chamling who left for a foreign trip, leaving the party’s candidates helpless, said the SKM. With no organizational or moral support, the candidates were left with no option but to withdraw, highlighting the party’s disorganization and failure, the SKM said.

“Both these parties which have lost their credibility and presence in Sikkim are now making baseless accusations through the media. SKM believes that a strong opposition is necessary in a democracy and would have welcomed constructive opposition from these parties.  However, their current behavior of making excuses and baseless political accusations only reflects their frustration and nonsense which the people of Sikkim will not entertain,” said the SKM.