Sikkim Bypolls: CAP Sikkim candidate accused of forging proposers

GANGTOK,: FIRs were registered at Soreng police station on Saturday following complaints by five individuals who have accused SKM candidate Pobin Hang Subba for fraudulently submitting their names as his proposers to the Soreng Returning Officer.

Pobin Hang had filed his nomination papers on Friday as the SKM candidate for the upcoming Soreng-Chakung bypoll. Among his proposers, five persons have complained to the police that their names were added without their knowledge or consent. The candidate is also accused of forging their signatures.

In a press statement, ruling SKM spokesperson Bikash Basnet said: “It is learnt from an FIR that CAP Sikkim candidate Pobin Hang Subba has assaulted democratic process after failing to get the proposers for his candidature. As per the FIR at Soreng police station, he has forged documents and signatures of four persons and included them as his proposers without their knowledge or consent. The FIR also reveals that he has misused the name and documents of another person who is working outside the State and this is a condemnable act.”

The FIRs make it clear that Pobin Hang failed to get proposers and thus resorted to acts which are against the laws, democratic process and rules of the Election Commission, stressed the SKM spokesperson. He added that these complaints also expose the false claims of CAP Sikkim of their proposers being kidnapped by the ruling front.

“SKM always complies with the ECI norms and rules, and is committed to contest the bye-elections in a clean manner. But the CAP Sikkim is trying to mislead the people and violating every rule of the electoral process,” said the SKM spokesperson.

The SKM spokesperson demanded that the candidature of Pobin Hang Subba is rejected by the concerned authorities.

Scrutiny of nomination papers are scheduled on October 28 with the last date for withdrawing nominations being October 30.