Sikkim BJP ‘losing faith’ in SKM-BJP alliance

GANGTOK, : Bharatiya Janata Party Sikkim is “losing faith” on its alliance partner Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party. “It’s not losing faith in the government but more so in the coalition,” said State BJP.

Speaking with SIKKIM EXPRESS, Sikkim BJP president D.B. Chauhan stated, “We are losing faith in the SKM-BJP alliance in the government. Our legislators are facing a second-hand treatment in their own constituencies, courtesy of the ruling government. They are elected MLAs who are there to represent their constituencies. But, the SKM party is replacing our legislators with their party in-charges who are curtailing the growth of the constituency, the functioning of the legislator as well as that of the BJP in Sikkim. Anyone not with SKM party is not being seen or treated as equal by the government and the ruling front.”

“Our party workers are dissatisfied. They are being pressurized by the ruling front,” states a BJP Sikkim release issued in Thursday.

Currently, BJP has 12 legislators in Sikkim Legislative Assembly of whom 10 defected from Sikkim Democratic Front. Two legislators were elected in the 2019 by-election – from Gangtok and Martam-Rumtek constituencies. 

Chauhan refused to mention the legislators being replaced by SKM party in-charges, but stated that “inequality is seen not merely upon the BJP party workers but also among the legislators.”

“Our BJP workers are being lured or being pressurized to join the SKM party. Seeing such pressure and activities of the ruling front, there is large scale dissatisfaction among the party workers. There has been no benefit to the party from the coalition. The coalition government with the SKM has affected the BJP party workers and supporters. The party organization is not being allowed to function properly,” he added.

Chauhan also accused the State government of false pretence about the coalition in front of Central leaders. He stated, “When Central leaders come from outside the State there is a false pretence from the government and the ruling front that there is coalition. They portray the coalition when they take legislators to places like Mumbai and Delhi as part of the delegation to show the Central leaders. But the ground reality inside the State is very different. We are not seen as equal.”

On “losing faith” in the coalition, Chauhan said, “When the 2019 election happened and the by-election followed, we had a lot of faith in the coalition. But in due course of time, we started noticing the second-hand treatment. Steadily, now, we are losing faith in the alliance.”

The press release shared by the BJP also mentions how the BJP has been taking stock of the burning concern in the State with regards to the Article 371F involving the protest by two Bihar residents at Jantar Mantar. “These outside influences are commenting on the Sikkimese identity guaranteed through Article 371F. We declare such individuals to be anti-national as well as anti-constitution. BJP has always worked towards politics of unity of the nation. We shall not tolerate any statement that dampens the existence of Sikkim,” the release adds.